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Good info, Bob. Kinda what we knew he'd do, right?

I'm not worried. There will always be veterans who want to win a SB and will play for a fair contract or a young stud looking to prove himself. Bennett did exactly what he hoped to do. Good for him, but next man up!

I guess the Hawks didn't get the Costco discount.

Next man up!

I wonder how much the offer was.

I don't blame Bennett a bit, and there's a part of me that hopes he gets an Albert Hanesworth type of deal. I'll always be appreciative of his contributions here that resulted in our first ever Lombardi trophy. It's not unlike the situation we had with Joe Juravicious...I'm sure I spelled that wrong... in our last SB year.

One side of me says he oughta get his money while he can.
Its his right. I don't blame the guy.


The other side of me wishes he ends up in Oakland, and we never hear from him or his one ring again.

Show Bennett the money! Thank him for all of his contributions to our SB win, then show him the door!

If Tate did this, i.e. test the market, I would feel a little more melancholic, because he has more invested with the team than Bennett. But I won't blame Tate either. Hey, its a business they should take care of their families first.

Seriously, hope Bennett comes back,(to the table) but I doubt it.

Ring or money.

He just got the 1st, so maybe he takes the payday elsewhere, no matter how poor the team is.

I wouldn't necessarily write Bennett off. He characterized the talks with the Hawks as "positive" although no one's saying how much money he walked away from. There's some speculation that he's seeking a $9-10M multi year deal. He seems to have been committed to testing the free agency market for quite some time.

Here's a little more extensive story about it.

http://seattletimes.com/html/seahawks/2 ... 07xml.html

He wants the money that comes with a great "prove it" year and a Super Bowl. If the Seahawks offer is in the ballpark we have as much chance to sign him as anyone does.

I don't think we'll be in that ballpark though.

No matter how good the offer, you just can not know if there is a higher offer until free agency begins. Bennett is likely the number one free agent on the market at this point. I don't think there is a lot of risk to him in waiting to see what other teams offer. Having several deals in front of you to choose from can't be a bad thing.

I think one of the things that helps us is that he is not a classic edge rusher that comes off the right side and runs around people. He has great ability, but this year he showed he can be special from the left end or inside. Not every team is going to be set up to pay big money at that position. My guess is the hawks know pretty darn well what teams will offer him but they want to stop short of setting the top of the market. They knew he would be looking at all the offers, and I don't think one guy in the 'hawks FO blames him.

I think the 'hawks want him badly and they will be aggressive in the offer to keep him.

FolkCrusader wrote:No matter how good the offer, you just can not know if there is a higher offer until free agency begins. Bennett is likely the number one free agent on the market at this point. I don't think there is a lot of risk to him in waiting to see what other teams offer. Having several deals in front of you to choose from can't be a bad thing.

I think one of the things that helps us is that he is not a classic edge rusher that comes off the right side and runs around people. He has great ability, but this year he showed he can be special from the left end or inside. Not every team is going to be set up to pay big money at that position. My guess is the hawks know pretty darn well what teams will offer him but they want to stop short of setting the top of the market. They knew he would be looking at all the offers, and I don't think one guy in the 'hawks FO blames him.

I think the 'hawks want him badly and they will be aggressive in the offer to keep him.

From Bennett's POV, there's not a lot of risk in turning down the Hawks offer and testing the FA market. If he doesn't like what he sees in FA, he can always come back and get at least the same deal he walked away from with us. Same with the Hawks. I'm sure they had a pretty good idea he wasn't going to bite until after testing the FA market, so why make your best offer when he's going to go check out FA anyway? The smart move is keeping your cards close to your vest until you see what the other teams are willing to offer, which is what I think JS is doing.

Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

Justin plays RDE in SFs 3-4, he doesn't play in the middle. Not a bad thought on the 49ers part though. They have Smith signed fairly cheap for the next season, but he may be a little pissed if they bring someone in at twice his salary.

I don't blame Bennett one bit. We got him at a discount last season and now we will have to pay him his market value if we are to keep him. I hope that after he gets a best offer in free agency that he calls up and gives our team a chance to match the offer, if we can. Obviously if he gets some insanely high contract offer by another team we will have to say bye bye.

FolkCrusader wrote:

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

Justin plays RDE in SFs 3-4, he doesn't play in the middle. Not a bad thought on the 49ers part though. They have Smith signed fairly cheap for the next season, but he may be a little pissed if they bring someone in at twice his salary.

Bennett can play both inside and outside on the DL - and be effective at both.

It might be a little tough for them to sign him as they are only 10 mil under the cap and have to sign or replace some of their own FA, as well as possibly paying Kaepernick. IMO it would be very difficult with their current cap/contract situation, obviously not impossible but they would have to get rid of one of their other premier players to do so.

We got him at a discount last season and now we will have to pay him his market value if we are to keep him.

I'm not sure it's proper to characterize it that way.

He made something like $5M this season- that ain't chump change for his position- and what we paid him was market value for what he was at that time (by definition, really).

He thought he could be better than he was considered at the time (which was solid but not dominating), and he went out and proved it.

That doesn't mean he was playing for league minimum or something.

NorthHawk wrote:

FolkCrusader wrote:

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

Justin plays RDE in SFs 3-4, he doesn't play in the middle. Not a bad thought on the 49ers part though. They have Smith signed fairly cheap for the next season, but he may be a little pissed if they bring someone in at twice his salary.

Bennett can play both inside and outside on the DL - and be effective at both.

Not in a 3-4, son.

We often used him in the middle of our 3 man front on passing downs. Much of his value is the ability to get penetration even in a crowd.

You're right he's no NT anchor against the run but most 3-4 teams have a 2 down run stuffer they replace with a specialist on passing downs.

Bennett could easily be that guy for a 3-4 team as well as a healthy part of the rotation at end on any down.

c_hawkbob wrote:We often used him in the middle of our 3 man front on passing downs. Much of his value is the ability to get penetration even in a crowd.

You're right he's no NT anchor against the run but most 3-4 teams have a 2 down run stuffer they replace with a specialist on passing downs.

Bennett could easily be that guy for a 3-4 team as well as a healthy part of the rotation at end on any down.

Sure they could, but $9-10 million a year for a situational guy? I think he'll be playing full time on the outside for that money.

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

If the Niners want to dump multiple other players to sign Bennett, I like the Seahawks chances. I appreciate what the man can do, and what he's done, but that said, one man does not control the fortunes of any team, and that includes Bennett. The Niners have been as good as they are, because of having a complete team across the board, if they are going to lose a couple key pieces to sign and keep Bennett, than good luck keeping up. The man isn't an all pro, cornerstone guy, he is important, no doubt about it, but he isn't the "key" "core" guy Seattle HAS to have no matter the cost. If he walks, he walks. If he goes to SF, so be it. It isn't going to automatically propel them past Seattle, especially if they don't address their defensive backfield.

I think Bennett was a huge part of our defensive dominance against the Donkeys and their hurry to the line of scrimmage offense. With his versatility Seattle was able to scheme properly without a lot of personnel changes on the D line throughout the game. All that being said I just don't hear anyone addressing the torn rotator cuff that was reported prior to the season. I just had surgery for mine 3 months ago and I'm still a chicken wing. Hes a tough Mofo to play through it and maybe its a small percentage tear. But if it blows out he is done for a year as an NFL player mark my words. Maybe that's why he is trying to cash the big check and God bless him. I would imagine any team who signs him would have a performance clause in his contract.

Distant Relative wrote:I guess the Hawks didn't get the Costco discount.

Next man up!

You do realize that saying does not work with every position on the field.

HumanCockroach wrote:

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

If the Niners want to dump multiple other players to sign Bennett, I like the Seahawks chances. I appreciate what the man can do, and what he's done, but that said, one man does not control the fortunes of any team, and that includes Bennett. The Niners have been as good as they are, because of having a complete team across the board, if they are going to lose a couple key pieces to sign and keep Bennett, than good luck keeping up. The man isn't an all pro, cornerstone guy, he is important, no doubt about it, but he isn't the "key" "core" guy Seattle HAS to have no matter the cost. If he walks, he walks. If he goes to SF, so be it. It isn't going to automatically propel them past Seattle, especially if they don't address their defensive backfield.

"one man does not control the fortunes of any team" not totally true by a long shot, there are certain players, and every team has them if the go down the team is done. Bennett is not one of them for us though.

Name one. One player can be very important, not one player can win a championship by themselves.

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

I could totally see this as the Niners "bluffing" to get the Hawks to spend more money. Pretty smart as I don't think the Hawks let Bennett go to the niners.

Anthony wrote:

Distant Relative wrote:I guess the Hawks didn't get the Costco discount.

Next man up!

You do realize that saying does not work with every position on the field.

Hey Einstein, if Bennett goes to another team it will be next man up.

Distant Relative wrote:

NorthHawk wrote:Now PFT is reporting the 49ers are interested in Bennett to eventually replace Justin Smith in the middle.
It would be a nightmare for us with our weak OL.

I could totally see this as the Niners "bluffing" to get the Hawks to spend more money. Pretty smart as I don't think the Hawks let Bennett go to the niners.

Man I can see it this way too. I hope we don't get duped.

Hawktawk wrote:I think Bennett was a huge part of our defensive dominance against the Donkeys and their hurry to the line of scrimmage offense. With his versatility Seattle was able to scheme properly without a lot of personnel changes on the D line throughout the game. All that being said I just don't hear anyone addressing the torn rotator cuff that was reported prior to the season. I just had surgery for mine 3 months ago and I'm still a chicken wing. Hes a tough Mofo to play through it and maybe its a small percentage tear. But if it blows out he is done for a year as an NFL player mark my words. Maybe that's why he is trying to cash the big check and God bless him. I would imagine any team who signs him would have a performance clause in his contract.

HT, had no freaking clue about his situation.
You gotta think that PC and JS knows this and must feel it is not too serious, eh?

Seahawks knows his condition better than he does IMO.

Still, the possibility of this getting worst scares the chit outta me.

Bears & Bennett showing mutual interest. His brother, Martellus is a Bear. I really don't want to lose Bryant & Bennett, but then again, I hardly ever wanna lose anyone.

Bennett with his Rotator Cuff injury and his neck injury last year probably will take more money over playing with his brother.
I think it really hits home how quickly this job can be taken from them when a close call happens to them.
I hope we can re-sign him, but I wish him well wherever he goes because he was a big part in getting the Championship monkey off our back.

Griffin re-signed with Vikings for 5 yr 42 mil, with 20 mil guaranteed. I thought Bennett would come in around 8 mil annually, this shows he probably will be over 10. I don't know what the Hawks offered but IMO Bennett just might get that 11+ annually that he has been looking for and I don't know if that Hawks go that high. I always sort of felt that he wold be back but seeing this makes me think otherwise.

mykc14 wrote:Griffin re-signed with Vikings for 5 yr 42 mil, with 20 mil guaranteed. I thought Bennett would come in around 8 mil annually, this shows he probably will be over 10. I don't know what the Hawks offered but IMO Bennett just might get that 11+ annually that he has been looking for and I don't know if that Hawks go that high. I always sort of felt that he wold be back but seeing this makes me think otherwise.

Well, if he is going to make 11 million annually, good luck to him, whichever other team that happens to be for. I really like Bennett, but having to choose between Sherman, or Thomas or Wilson and Bennett, he is going to lose every time. I am fine if the paid him around what Clemmons makes, but an extra 2-3 million a year, just isn't going to work IMHO. . Like I said, if that is the case, they really need to focus on bringing back Mcdonald to provide some interior pass rush then. He shouldn't be real expensive and is a nice piece on the inside.

HumanCockroach wrote:

mykc14 wrote:Griffin re-signed with Vikings for 5 yr 42 mil, with 20 mil guaranteed. I thought Bennett would come in around 8 mil annually, this shows he probably will be over 10. I don't know what the Hawks offered but IMO Bennett just might get that 11+ annually that he has been looking for and I don't know if that Hawks go that high. I always sort of felt that he wold be back but seeing this makes me think otherwise.

Well, if he is going to make 11 million annually, good luck to him, whichever other team that happens to be for. I really like Bennett, but having to choose between Sherman, or Thomas or Wilson and Bennett, he is going to lose every time. I am fine if the paid him around what Clemmons makes, but an extra 2-3 million a year, just isn't going to work IMHO. . Like I said, if that is the case, they really need to focus on bringing back Mcdonald to provide some interior pass rush then. He shouldn't be real expensive and is a nice piece on the inside.

I agree. I don't want him for that much either. Personally the most I wanted to spend on him was around 8, but wouldn't have been upset at all if it was just under 10, but for more than that I would feel like we probably overpaid.

Not sure if this is posturing or even note worthy, but this popped up about ten minutes ago....

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId= ... rc=desktop

HumanCockroach wrote:Not sure if this is posturing or even note worthy, but this popped up about ten minutes ago....

http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId= ... rc=desktop

My gut says he signs today.

Of course it's noteworthy! I'm happy to have read it. I hope it's true!

Just meant that during free agency, there is a LOT of that stuff floated, and it doesn't always mean much of anything, half the time it's the players agent, floating the info to bump up the value of the player, as opposed to actual truth is all.

HumanCockroach wrote:Just meant that during free agency, there is a LOT of that stuff floated, and it doesn't always mean much of anything, half the time it's the players agent, floating the info to bump up the value of the player, as opposed to actual truth is all.

I think we are seeing that as PFT is reporting that Bennett will sign with Chicago as soon as it's legal to do so.
Who knows what is really going on, but if I'm Bennett, I would be pretty happy how things worked out.

Well.... maybe that's not the case anymore and PTF is now reporting that Bennett's 'camp' is saying he's leaning toward 4 @ 8m a year to stay with the Hawks... cuz he wants RINGS more than his Brother!

js