Several defensive linemen got big money contracts the past few months: Malik Jackson (6 years, $88.5 million) in Jacksonville; Olivier Vernon (5 years, $85 million) in New York; and Fletcher Cox (6 years, $102.6 million) in Philadelphia most recently. Michael Bennett has two seasons left on his four-year, $28.5 million contract signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014
The ever-talkative Bennett said Tuesday he hasn't paid much attention to the big-money contracts being doled out. His reasoning was pure Bennett.
"I pay more attention to things like Donald Trump and stuff like that, political campaigns going on right now, different things going on in the world," Bennett said, via the team's official website. "Too much beef -- people eating too much beef -- stuff like that. I don't really pay attention to too many contracts. It'll make your stomach hurt. It's like seeing your favorite girlfriend get married to someone else."
Bennett attended the start of the Seattle Seahawks' mandatory minicamp after skipping OTAs this offseason. The pass-rusher didn't participate Tuesday while nursing an injured ankle.
The 30-year-old Bennett sits outside the top 25 in terms of average money per season among defensive linemen, making him one of the biggest bargains in the NFL.
Bennett knows he's more valuable than his current contract. When asked if he was worth a $100 million deal he answered: "Of course I am."
"If you look at the stats of those guys, what they've done the last couple of years I'm at the top of the list in every statistical category," Bennett said. "If you look at it -- tackles for loss, quarterback hits, hurries, games played, positions played -- I mean it speaks for itself."
Bennett's value to the Seahawks sits not only in his ability to push the pocket and manhandle offensive linemen, but also in his middling contract, which allows John Schneider to team-build.
Bennett might believe he deserves a pay raise, but he's not getting a new deal from the Seahawks soon.
