Seahawks DE Michael Bennett confirmed that he has asked the team for a new contract duringย a dinner in for his foundation Friday night.
โTrying to get the contract right,โโ said Bennett, when asked about skipping theย first three OTAs this week, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. โIโll be there shortly. I donโt know when Iโll be there. Depends on the team and stuff. See how it works out.โโ
As far as what he’s looking for in terms of his next contract, Bennett said that he would like to be paid as a top-eight defensive end.
โSomewhere near the top seven at my position, top eight at my position,โโ Bennett said. โNot a lot of guys play inside and out (meaning both tackle and end). Not a lot of guys do what I do. So I feel like I should be somewhere near there.โโ
If Seattle were toย acquiesce Bennett’s request of being paid in the top eight players at his position, they’re looking at paying him an annual salary of around $10 million.
Bennett added that he still sees himself playing for the season, but is still hoping to come away with a raise.
โI see myself being with the Seahawks,โโ Bennett said. โI think we have something special here and the things that we do in the community, the players that we have and the team and the coaches. I think itโs a great organization. But at the end of the day, itโs all about the business part of it, and sometimes people see your value as something else and sometimes you see your value as something different, and itโs just part of the business.
โ. โฆ Weโll see what happens. The ideal situation would be that I get a raise and that will be something great.โโ
Bennett, 29, signedย four-year, $32 million contract that included $16 million guaranteed with the Seahawks in March of last year. He still has another three years remaining on the agreement to go along with base salaries ofย $6 million (2015),ย $4 million (2016), andย $6 million (2017).
In 2014, Bennett appeared in all 16 games and recorded 39 tackles, seven sacks, and a forced fumble.ย Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 defensive end in a 4-3 defenseย out of 59ย qualifying players.
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Brother doing the same thing in Chicago. Both teams should let them twist.