Countdown to Kickoff: Profile on Seattle Seahawks No. 72 Michael Bennett

If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re a huge NFL fan. Well as each day goes by, we get closer and closer to Kickoff 2016. Today, 72 days away from that Thursday night, let’s look at No. 72 for the Seattle Seahawks, Michael Bennett.

There are only four members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame that wore number 72: Dan Dierdorf, Bill George, Henry Jordan and Ray Nitschke. Michael Bennett may someday be number five but, for now, he’ll have to make due with being the most entertaining man to ever wear 72.

Welcome to the Countdown to Kickoff Series at NFLSpinZone.com. We started with number 99, Joey Bosa, and we’ve profiled one player per day since (find all of the profile’s here).

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Michael Bennett is a character. From his sack dance (since retired) that was inspired by Professional Wrestler, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, to celebrating the 2015 NFC Championship game by riding a bicycle around CenturyLink Field, you never know what Bennett may do.

Of course, these types of antics are only accepted because of his dominant play on the field.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 by the Seahawks, Bennett failed to make the team that year, and was released. Two days later he was signed onto the Tampa Bay Buccaneers active roster. Bennett spent four seasons in Tampa, and while the first three were underwhelming, he tallied nine sacks in his fourth.

Bennett, an unrestricted free agent, signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks in 2013. He finished with 8.5 sacks that year, earning a four year extension to stay in Seattle.

Bennett has played a pivotal role in Pete Carroll’s defense as a hybrid defensive end/tackle, typically sliding inside on passing downs.

In three seasons with the Seahawks, Bennett has notched 25.5 sacks, with his best pass rushing performance coming in 2015 when he had 10. To go a long with his sack numbers from 2015, Bennett also tallied 24 quarterback hurries, good for 17th in the NFL.

Pro Football Focus ranked Bennett as the fifth best edge defender in 2015.

Currently, the buzz surrounding Bennett has to do with his dissatisfaction regarding the contract he signed in 2013. This is what Bob Condotta, of the Seattle Times, had to say about Bennett recently (via seattletimes.com):

"He skipped Seattle’s voluntary OTA sessions the last three weeks, letting it be known that he remains unhappy with his contract, a four-year deal worth $28.5 million that he signed in March, 2014.But Bennett had said on several occasions in recent weeks that he didn’t plan to hold out (and undoubtedly, he also wanted to avoid the possibility of being fined as much as $76,580 for skipping the mandatory mini-camp — there is no financial penalty for sitting out OTAs)."

While Bennett’s opinion that he has outplayed his current contract may be true, he is mostly saying the right things in the media. Bennett has repeatedly stated that he’s motivated to get back to the Super Bowl. He has added that he’s well aware that Super Bowl 51 is in his hometown of Houston.

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Michael Bennett’s mix of bravado and talent make him a fan favorite in Seattle. For Bennett, even though a new contract may be in the back of his mind, he knows that Seahawks fans are expecting to see the same backfield destroying, quarterback crushing class clown suiting up for them on Sunday’s.