Michael Bennett Keeps Tight Bucs Ties, Thoughts
January 28th, 2014
Why is Bennett talking about the Bucs’ D-line coach?
Of course Joe drilled and grilled Seahawks sackmaster and former Bucs defensive end Michael Bennett today about all things Bucs.
Who cares about Super Bowl stuff at Super Bowl Media Day? Joe wants to know about the Bucs.
One interesting nugget from free-agent-to-be Bennett was his telling Joe how very close he is to Gerald McCoy. Bennett said his wife and McCoy’s wife are “best friends” and Bennett is in regular communication with McCoy, including this week.
For Bucs fans eager for a Bennett return, Bennett clearly has Tampa Bay on the brain. Joe will have more from Bennett later, but during an answer to one of Joe’s questions, Bennett talked about how new Bucs defensive line coach Joe Cullen has a great reputation, is a real technician and is going to do great things in Tampa.
That piqued Joe’s interest, so Joe responded by asking Bennett what his connection is to Cullen. When/how did they cross paths?
Bennett said he doesn’t know Cullen at all. Never even met him. Bennett said he’s only done research into players who have studied under him and seen on film how Cullen’s defensive line students have developed great skills.
Now Joe wasn’t born yesterday. What is a key cog on the Seahawks like Bennett doing dropping Joe Cullen’s name as Bucs D-line coach, and raving about the guy, if he has no ties to the guy?
The Bucs are in Bennett’s thoughts — almost as much as Bucs fans still can’t fathom the thought of Bennett being allowed to walk away to the Seahawks.
January 28th, 2014 at 5:57 pm
Maybe
January 28th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Yay! Loved this one Joe! Thanks for the post! I’d love to right the mistake of allowing him to leave last year! GO BUCS!
January 28th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
We’ll see
January 28th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Dont think Seattle lets him go.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:03 pm
….Or he knows the newly hired D-Line coach, for one of his good friends..
January 28th, 2014 at 6:11 pm
I wouldnt consider him a “sackmaster” after only getting 8.5 sacks this past season. A couple of things two consider since Bennett will no doubt be looking for that long term, high priced contract- Would the bucs/bucs fans really want to sign Bennett to a multi year deal If we draft a passer rusher with our first round pick? Would Bennett really choose to sign with the bucs over the seahawks if the same multi year deal was on the table from both teams? I would have no problem bringing Bennett back on a short term deal as a rotational player, but nothing more. Lets be real guys, he is good but by no means is he elite. Its time to find an elite passer rusher in the vain of Simeon Rice. There will be some pretty good ones in this draft.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
he’s coming back to Tampa
January 28th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
I got a good question for bucs fans- who would you rather have, Michael Bennett or Jard Allen? both are possibilities this off season and I think I would go with Jared Allen.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Bennett would last longer than Allen and would probably be cheaper. Allen would probably have more of an impact sooner but you have to look at the overall value.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Andrew 1,
Listen to what licht said! Who will be the value signee? Bennett has way more upside – meaning he’s already good and he’s still learning. By virtue of his age 32, Allen is good but is on the downside of his career.
Allen earned 14mil last year. He surely won’t get that in FA, but he’s already made it known to the Vikings that there will be no hometown discounts. For the same or probably less money, I would welcome Bennett back!
January 28th, 2014 at 6:37 pm
I like the idea of bringing in Bennett or Allen AND drafting a DE in the first round. I think I’d take bennett he will last longer and he’s got an attitude. Him and McCoy would be glad to be on the same line again as well. I don’t think Seattle will offer Bennett that much.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:40 pm
@Andrew 1
I hear you, you don’t break the bank for a guy that can’t crack 10 sacks in a season.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:46 pm
Greg Hardy is another story all together.
Especially when you hear stuff like this coming from the GM
Panthers GM Dave Gettleman hinted that there’s a possibility the team could let impending free agent RE Greg Hardy walk.
“Everybody lets players go. There isn’t a team in this league that hasn’t let a big dog walk out the door. And don’t print that I’m saying that he’s going to go,” Gettleman said. “I’m just making a statement. There isn’t anybody that hasn’t done that. It’s a whole big puzzle we’re putting together and he’s one of the pieces.”
-Gettleman referenced Carolina’s cap issues multiple times in his exit presser Tuesday, so he doesn’t have a lot of money to work with-
January 28th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Please come home, Mr. Bennett!!
January 28th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
I’m sure everyone will welcome Bennett back to Tampa. Today WDAE mentioned of letting Bennett go was the biggest mistake of the Bucs organization and I’ll agree. Especially with what surfaced from the past coaches. Bennett will thrive in our system and I’d be glad to have him back as we sure do miss him and his performance.
January 28th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Let’s just hope Bennett’s wife is done with the cold and rain and wants to come back to Tampa to be with her best friend and warm weather.
January 28th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Fine by me. Letting him go was a misstep and I’d be glad to have him blowing up runs in the backfield again. Too bad we have to pay him as a super bowl player now
January 28th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
DE Justin Tuck (3yrs $6.2 million-per-year range)??
January 28th, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Everyone can put the Hardy talk to rest. This new regime isn’t breaking the bank on Hardy.
So get over it. It’ll be a guy like Allen or Bennett. Not an overpriced FA who’s replacement will probably make the Pro Bowl anyways.
Goldson – his replacement in SF makes Pro Bowl
Nicks – his replacement in NO makes Pro Bowl.
See a trend, folks?
January 28th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Trend is that good organizations develop players.
The ones who chase overpriced FAs generally don’t make the playoffs.
January 28th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
This I can buy, unless they franchise tag him they can’t do anything about it lol
January 28th, 2014 at 7:07 pm
@snook – good point. I don’t think we’ll have to overpay as much any more. We have a respectable coaching staff that players will want to work for. people won’t give us a discount because we’re not proven winners yet but we’re a lot closer than we were with the clowns we had in charge before
January 28th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Let off some steam Bennett!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSTpdMSzg9M
January 28th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
As much as I like Michael Bennett, he is hardly a sack master averaging 8.5 sacks a season.
January 28th, 2014 at 8:09 pm
@Andrew 1:
Bennett is obviously interested in coming back; that does not make it a done deal, but at least we are in the running. So, how about Jerad Allen on RDE, Bennett on LDE and Claybourn rotating in?
I don’t think either Allen or Bennett will be outrageously expensive. Allen is old. Bennett only has 8.5 sacks. So, both should be reasonable – I think.
January 28th, 2014 at 8:36 pm
8.5 for a situational player is pretty good. I would welcome him back, even as a fulltime starter. We don’t have much cap space margin this year but I’m sure there’s a way to be creative
January 28th, 2014 at 8:53 pm
8.5 sacks as only a part time player…he also has played great in the playoffs.especially against san fran.
January 28th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
This is surprising to me. Very telling that he’s open to coming back to Tampa, or just that he’s that in touch with McCoy… And GMC is telling him about his new coach. All speculation, but I would take him back. I love the fire he plays with, although he’s a bit undersized. He plays well on the left end and we could find ourselves a true pass rusher for the right side.
January 29th, 2014 at 1:10 am
But ppl fail to realize that by him averaging 8.5 sacks that would free Mccoy up to expand his 9 sacks to breaking sappy numbers and having a 15 sack season. With all the pass rushing pieces n place I could easily see Mccoy exploding for 15 and that would open Bennet up for at least double digits.its a team sport gentleman they gotta work together imagine if we had a consistent pressure from the outside collapsing the pocket ….The QB would have no where to go cause he can’t step up Mccoy blows up the A gap EVERY TIME!! The system is golden when u have the pieces in place that’s what lovie meant when he said a couple pieces away
January 29th, 2014 at 1:29 am
Great write-up! I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It would be great if TB could bring back Bennett. Thanks.
January 29th, 2014 at 2:26 am
He’s going to want to be paid major bucks. This was a “prove it” deal with the Seahawks that he took. Now someone is going to overpay.
January 29th, 2014 at 9:59 am
passer rusher? Anyone?
January 29th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Add to the 8.5 sacks, fumbles caused, fumbles recovered, TD’s scored, interceptions and his ability to stop the run, Seattle steps up big time next year.
Without Bennett, Seattle would be watching this game from home.
January 29th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Bring him back right after the Superbowl!!!
January 30th, 2014 at 12:25 pm
He certainly sounds like he’s open to returning. That would be a great move that should tilt the first round draft pick toward the offense at either QB, WR or maybe even drop down a few slots to get an extra pick and then take an OL stud. Still not sure if the Tedford-Carr connection is relevant or nothing more than a smoke screen.