Non-answer On Michael Bennett

March 4th, 2018

Seattle GM spins.

Joe’s old man once said of a windbag at a microphone, “He talks a lot but he doesn’t say much.”

This crossed Joe’s mind when Seattle general manager John Schneider was asked last week at the NFL combine in Indianapolis about Michael Bennett’s future with the team.

Of course, Bennett is the living embodiment of the decade-long ineptitude of the Bucs franchise to find and/or develop a quality edge rusher. Just when Bennett was about to break out as a Pro Bowl player, the Bucs let him walk away (all together now) for no good reason.

Anyway, here is Schneider’s wordy dodge of a non-answer to Bennett’s tenure with the Seahawks.

“That’s a great question,” Scheinder said. “I was reading about that last night. We don’t get into people’s contracts (with the media) but I understand why that’s out there. It’s this time of the year. The combine has really developed into a lot more of the – I have a couple friends in baseball, right? – kind of like the baseball meetings.

“So I’ve been here since Monday night and I’ve literally been in meetings the whole time, whether it’s league meetings, committee meetings, I met with the NCAA yesterday. We’re just constantly talking to people all the time. Part of our challenge right now is — how do I say this appropriately? – is sustaining our level of success that we’ve had, and we’re just open to anything.”

Schneider confessed there are no untouchables on his roster, but Joe would be shocked if Schneider had Russell Wilson on the trading block.

So maybe since he got sandbagged by Les Snead of the Rams, perhaps Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht can pull off a deal for Bennett and right a grave wrong?

If you are looking at the potential free agent crop of pash rushers when the free agency dinner bell rings next week, it sure looks grim. And even then, getting a free agent edge rusher to sign on a dotted line with the Bucs seems an obstacle.

42 Responses to “Non-answer On Michael Bennett”

  1. Joeypoppems Says:

    There is a very good chance we will be relying on rookie pass rushers this season. I dont think Licht will get a trade done with anybody and, as Joe said, the group FA edge rushers this year looks grim.

  2. Chris Says:

    And if he’s shipped to an AFC team everyone will blame licht again.

  3. Dewey Selmon Says:

    My father tough me that phrase Joe. Our fathers are smart men.

  4. Buccaneer scotty Says:

    Screw Bennett go after Wilson! Lmao

  5. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    “John Schneider…” – J0E

    I really loved his performance in JAWS.

  6. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    In all fairness, Robert Ayers isn’t THAT bad, and he’s driven. He might be just the player to drive rookies to success.

  7. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    I would take Bennett. In face, I’d like him and Blount. That, I would count as a good off season free agency.

    Of, and that kicker…Cody Parkey. He’d be a good upgrade.

  8. Buccaneer Bonzai Says:

    face = fact

  9. Mike Johnson Says:

    Thats a great question? Spin Move! Its like when I ask my boss for a raise at the end of the year. He says, Let me reflect on that question a while. In other words, Get the F..out of my office! The Bucs ain’t Gettin Benett or no other DE in FA. We are gonna end up with 2 rookieis at best. And the pass rush is gonna be somewhat of the same. As will be the Defense. As will be the final score and losses. And hopefully, a new era will began after the Dump of the 3 loserteers..Licht, Koetter and pressbox Smitty in 2019!

  10. ZK Says:

    F Bennett

  11. WutdaBucisthis Says:

    And this is why I’m beating the drum to switch to a base 34. Draft the mountain Vita @7
    GMC
    Vita
    Big Will
    Stevie T
    Russell
    Clarke
    3rd pick dline
    To me That’s a solid rotation
    Use FA to grab 2CB and SS
    OG maybe 2

  12. Tomorn Buree Says:

    Marcus Davenport 4.58 speed with power
    …make him#7pick

  13. Howard Cosell Says:

    Maybe Bennett would come here and actually produce.
    Maybe Joe is on to something.
    Bennett is friends with McCoy, right?

  14. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    Bonzai…it was Roy Scheider in “Jaws”..

  15. tmaxcon Says:

    one thing you can count on anyone that they bring in on defense will regress playing next to cancer93. nobody can suck the life out of a free agent faster than cancer93

  16. JabooBuc Says:

    Ditto on ZK’s comment. Vote no for Bennett.

  17. Pickgrin Says:

    I would rather have Bennett and his contract averaging $8.7M the next 3 years with no guarantees for a 5th or 6th rd pick than to have paid a 4th+ for Quinn who is under contract 2 more years averaging over $12M per.

  18. JWBUCS Says:

    Bennett is a lying piece of crap, along with hitting his twilight era of his career, from an age standpoint…. I would prefer we make our best effort to bring quality people into this Bucs locker room…

  19. Mr. Ed Says:

    Another case of Joe pretending the decade long ineptitude has nothing to do with its major architect, one Mark Dumbinik, the worst general manager in franchise history.

  20. Bobby M. Says:

    I think at #7…of every round…..we better be able to walk away with an instant starter at either RB/Offensive Line or DE/DT in the first two rounds. This draft should be about fixing at least one side of the ball. Licht has been dabbling around for 4 yrs now and we have holes everywhere. We should have a dominant offense after this offseason or very stout defense.

  21. Waterboy Says:

    There may not be a lot of options available at edge rusher but there’s a heck of a lot of options available that can get pressure up the middle. Bring those guys in and force QB’s to to move the pocket to the outside. If you can’t get edge rushers that can get to the QB bring in guys that will force the QB to go to them. I’m not all that high on Bennett I’d only bring him in if the price was right but wouldn’t trade for him.

  22. tmaxcon Says:

    JWBUCS

    points and talent wins games not quality guys… go watch church softball bucs need talent the choirboy experiment failed miserably.

  23. Tony from Los Angeles Says:

    No way on signing aging and on the down slope vets after the fiasco Licht has mismanaged this offseason.

    Licht blew golden opportunities to bring in real young talent in both Quinn and Peters. Yes – they had red flags, they would not have been available if not. They were proven and both had years of production in front of them without giving up any premium assets to obtain.

    If the Bucs had acquired both, how do you think the fan base would feel now?

    BEYOND Excited. Period.

    Licht blew it. He deemed Aguayo worthy of a 3rd AND a 4th. But deemed Quinn unworthy of just a 3rd.
    Wow.

    He deemed Hargreaves worthy of a first round pick – but refused to pay a 4th and a future 2nd for a guy some say has Hall of Fame talent in Peters.

    That’s bush league for a GM who has zero success on his track record. Zero.

    He lost me as a supporter. The entire NFL knew Quinn was available for weeks. He blew it. The entire NFL knew Peters was available for weeks on the cheap. He blew it.

    He has one chance left at a young Pro Bowler.
    Norwell.

    If he blows this… he needs to be fired.

    FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!

  24. donuts Says:

    I agree that its an obstacle to sign with the Bucs for Bennet. Much like Gruden, who was fired and revealed the Bucs had no chance to get him from the MNF booth, there is little reason to think Bennett, who still has gas in the tank, would want to come back to the place that FIRED him.

    Would you? Probably not, we should not expect a different result.

    Bucs are reaching a level like the Rays at potentially being labelled the worst run franchise in the NFL/MLB. Malcolm cared about winning; these kids dont and are more interested/strapped by soccer.

  25. tmaxcon Says:

    Bucs are reaching a level like the Rays at potentially being labelled the worst run franchise in the NFL/MLB.

    they are the worst ran sports franchise in america not just nfl.

  26. Mr. Ed Says:

    Anyone saying to ignore Michael Bennett —

    Who on the Bucs is a better DE? No one.

    You won’t get Chubb at 7. There won’t be another DE in the draft who could start and make a difference in year one. Quinn went from the Rams to the Dolphins for free, making me think Licht is letting Dominik sit in for him while he does whatever it is he does (and doesn’t do) at the Combine. But there won’t be another DE of that quality available for free.

    So, yeah. Bennett.

    Anyone not agreeing fits the Warren Sapp definition of a Bucs fan.

    I D I O T

  27. Not there yet Says:

    Honestly mentioning how the bucs let Bennett go 5 Times a week. I think your readers know it by now so no need to repeat it every time you talk about pass rushers. We need them badly but I doubt licht cares about our history with Bennett. He was not here so there’s no nostalgic reason for Bennett or talib to return.

    Licht won’t be bringing them back for the feel good story you wish to write

  28. Buccaneer scotty Says:

    What’s suck ass stories on JoeBucsFan today LOL

  29. Pawel Says:

    We cant say No to Bennett, because Julius Peppers still played well at his age. Also, any established Vet will be better than our current DEs.

  30. El_Buc941 Says:

    Well Joe one thing I do know is Michael Bennet has experience as a starter,the playoffs, and multiple super bowls. Any rookie we draft will not have NFL experience and it’s rare when rookie rushers have success in their first year.the signing of Bennet could go a long way for Tampa as in terms of recruiting other key position players and maybe getting Grimes interested in resigning. Sheesh I wouldn’t sign with Tampa again if I knew they were drafting a rookie rusher…now if you bring in a Superbowl champ that’s probably bowl caiber and has playoff experience sign me up!!!!

  31. BigHogHaynes Says:

    What we need to do is stop lying to ourselves that Bennett can’t produce on the field, our GM has an ego problem, what we need he won’t go get …but in his mind what he brings in should work for ya! I’m going to set back and wait on Free agency then watch what we do in the draft and hope we can win 6 games this season!!!

  32. Bucsfan1988 Says:

    And on another note, Shaquem Griffin just ran 4.38 40-time! For those of you who don’t know who this is, he’s the UCF hybrid linebacker/safety that is missing his left hand. JASON, PLEASE DRAFT THIS KID AND MAKE HIM OUR STRONG SAFETY! This dude is 1000% heart! He will change a team’s culture all by himself.

  33. LifeOfABucFan Says:

    Agree with Pawel..

    Yes to Bennett!!!!!! And McCoy would approve!!!

  34. LakeLand Says:

    Jason Licht has no intentions of bringing Michael Bennett back to Tampa.

  35. Waterboy Says:

    Forget bringing in mediocre “edge rushers” expected to get 8 sacks a season and bring in guys like Vea, Wilkerson, Richardson, Poe, etc. who can push the interior line back and force the QB out of the pocket.

  36. Mr. Ed Says:

    @Waterboy – the Bucs interior push has been pretty good. No one can get the QB once he is flushed ouyt of the picket. But don’t let reality get in the way of your fantasy.

  37. Waterboy Says:

    @Mr. Ed

    Maybe I missed that in the 16 games that I watched. The opposing QB’s looked pretty comfortable sitting in the pocket and delivering the ball. I rarely saw them sliding left or right in the pocket to buy more time.

  38. RachelWatson'sthong Says:

    Sorry that you have only been a Bus fan for about 15 minutes Mr.Ed, but Phil Krueger was the worst GM in Buc history. You can draw straws for the rest of the seeding.

  39. GrudenForPresident Says:

    Waterboy just said forget about bringing in mediocre edge rushers. About Bennett!😂😂😂😂😂 I I know you just started watching football pal so let me fill you in cause you are obviously clueless. Mediocre edge rushers is what’s on our team. Youre welcome.

  40. godzilla13 Says:

    Pickgrin Says – “I would rather have Bennett and his contract averaging $8.7M the next 3 years with no guarantees for a 5th or 6th rd pick than to have paid a 4th+ for Quinn who is under contract 2 more years averaging over $12M per”.
    I agree completely. For the Bucs not to sign a player as great as Michael Bennett, who wants to play in Tampa, means there is either something wrong with our GM or something wrong someplace else? Can anyone explain to me why we would not try to trade for him? Makes no sense at all. Talib either.

  41. The Anomaly Says:

    Bennett possibly to ATL.

    Licht’s got this…buwahahahahahaha

  42. Waterboy Says:

    @GrudenForPresident

    Nope been watching for a long time and Bennett in his younger days was an above average DE (7-10 sacks a yr) but never elite and at 32 he’s on the decline. This team doesn’t currently have anyone that I’d classify as mediocre coming off the edge. Spence shows potential but I need to see him stay healthy before he’d fall into the mediocre category. Don’t get me wrong I’d still bring him in but wouldn’t give up anything for him or commit more than 9 mil a year max.