Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett is skipping the team’s OTAs as he seeks a new deal according to the Seattle Times.
Bennett signed a four-year deal worth up to $28.5 million with $16 million guaranteed. Like so many guys in the league, Bennett feels that he’s outplayed that deal.
Bennett, 29, told the Times he would like to be paid within the top eight at the position. His current $7.125 million per season, ranks him at 14 among defensive ends.
“Not a lot of guys play inside and out,” he said. “Not a lot of guys do what I do. So I feel like I should be somewhere near there.”
Bennett led the Seahawks in sacks each of the past two seasons, with seven last season and 8.5 in 2013. The mercurial defensive end stated that he wishes to remain in Seattle.
“I see myself being with the Seahawks,’’ he said. “I 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 it’s a great organization. But at the end of the day, it’s 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 it’s just part of the business.
“. … We’ll see what happens. The ideal situation would be that I get a raise and that will be something great.’’