Bennett not open to home town discount

[volsunghawk]

As far as Bennett goes, I'm fine with the team committing big resources into Bennett. Productive interior pass rushers are not easy to find.

Yeah, I'm honestly surprised at how many people here are fine with letting him walk.

His inside pressure was a massive difference in our pass rush. And it doesn't necessarily show up in the stat sheets as sacks, but the fact that opposing QBs couldn't just step up as our outside rushers came in was crucial.

 

[plyka]

I wish it were as easy as cutting Clem to sign Bennett. It washes this year, fine. But what impact does it have in the next couple of years? We are past the point of playing with even money. We've got to come up with 40 million per year for Sherm, Earl, and Russell. If we want to make that happen, we need to start making sacrifices now. Percy's number is 10ish also. We've got Mebane, Lynch, Kam also. That is like 70 million for seven players. And we're going to sign Bennett to pretty big money? What about Okung? If there is a way, I'm all for it. To me, the reality is that we had some extra cap this year to add a few pass-rushers, knowing full well there was no way we would be able to afford anything like it again.

The one thing that has to make you feel relieved is this: you know we need 40m, I know we need 40m and my 6 month old nephew knows that we need 40m, in order to keep our three most important players. Since that's the case, Pete/JS both know the same thing, and currently have it in their plans.

I heard something interesting the other day. In the NFL everyone can "manage" their cap. It's not the cap that is important. What's important is your cash situation, cash poor or cash rich. Meaning your cash flow. We have zero cash flow issues since the owner is worth 15 billion, i think 3-4 times richer than any other owner in the league.

 

[Tical21]

I wish it were as easy as cutting Clem to sign Bennett. It washes this year, fine. But what impact does it have in the next couple of years? We are past the point of playing with even money. We've got to come up with 40 million per year for Sherm, Earl, and Russell. If we want to make that happen, we need to start making sacrifices now. Percy's number is 10ish also. We've got Mebane, Lynch, Kam also. That is like 70 million for seven players. And we're going to sign Bennett to pretty big money? What about Okung? If there is a way, I'm all for it. To me, the reality is that we had some extra cap this year to add a few pass-rushers, knowing full well there was no way we would be able to afford anything like it again.

I would cut Red and Clem if it meant keeping Bennett, his versatility almost lets you carry one less DLineman. My guess is that Marshawn, Mebane are gone after this year and I won't be surprised if Percy was gone after this year (depending on his health and contract).

Percy ain't going anywhere. I think you're going to have to cut Red and Clem just to get by. I still don't think it affords you the luxury of signing Bennett, or anybody on the planet, at 7-8 mil per season.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

As far as Bennett goes, I'm fine with the team committing big resources into Bennett. Productive interior pass rushers are not easy to find.

Yeah, I'm honestly surprised at how many people here are fine with letting him walk.

His inside pressure was a massive difference in our pass rush. And it doesn't necessarily show up in the stat sheets as sacks, but the fact that opposing QBs couldn't just step up as our outside rushers came in was crucial.

I don't think anyone's OK with letting him walk, the question is do you break the bank for Bennett to keep him?

GB came out yesterday and said they're going hard in defensive free agency, as are other contenders. That means someone's going to overpay for a player like Bennett, which means JS has to either match that inflated salary, or let him go.

I trust John to not overpay. Overpaying is the quickest way to becoming the next Dallas Cowboys or Washington Redskins, salary cap hell.

 

[volsunghawk]

As far as Bennett goes, I'm fine with the team committing big resources into Bennett. Productive interior pass rushers are not easy to find.

Yeah, I'm honestly surprised at how many people here are fine with letting him walk.

His inside pressure was a massive difference in our pass rush. And it doesn't necessarily show up in the stat sheets as sacks, but the fact that opposing QBs couldn't just step up as our outside rushers came in was crucial.

I don't think anyone's OK with letting him walk, the question is do you break the bank for Bennett to keep him?

GB came out yesterday and said they're going hard in defensive free agency, as are other contenders. That means someone's going to overpay for a player like Bennett, which means JS has to either match that inflated salary, or let him go.

I trust John to not overpay. Overpaying is the quickest way to becoming the next Dallas Cowboys or Washington Redskins, salary cap hell.

The problem with the Redskins and Cowboys is that they were overpaying for other teams' players and not doing a good job of determining fit into their systems. They were going for names over schematic fits. When you have a guy that excels in your system, you keep him. And I think Bennett is our most valuable non-secondary defensive player.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

The problem with the Redskins and Cowboys is that they were overpaying for other teams' players and not doing a good job of determining fit into their systems. They were going for names over schematic fits. When you have a guy that excels in your system, you keep him. And I think Bennett is our most valuable non-secondary defensive player.

Again, most of us are agreeing with you. BUT, if another team that has a ton of cap space like GB is willing to overpay for Bennett, then we have to let him go.

Bennett's made it crystal clear that he's not going to take less to stay here.

I love Bennett, you love Bennett, we all love Bennett. If we can sign him for a Clem type contract, then I'm in. But if he's going to command a 12-15 million per year deal? Nope. I trust JS to let him go and go find us another motivated D-Lineman that can produce for much less.

Remember, FA's are going to be falling over backwards to come play here now. If we can't resign Bennett, we'll pretty much have the pick of the litter.

 

[volsunghawk]

The problem with the Redskins and Cowboys is that they were overpaying for other teams' players and not doing a good job of determining fit into their systems. They were going for names over schematic fits. When you have a guy that excels in your system, you keep him. And I think Bennett is our most valuable non-secondary defensive player.

Again, most of us are agreeing with you. BUT, if another team that has a ton of cap space like GB is willing to overpay for Bennett, then we have to let him go.

Bennett's made it crystal clear that he's not going to take less to stay here.

I love Bennett, you love Bennett, we all love Bennett. If we can sign him for a Clem type contract, then I'm in. But if he's going to command a 12-15 million per year deal? Nope. I trust JS to let him go and go find us another motivated D-Lineman that can produce for much less.

Remember, FA's are going to be falling over backwards to come play here now. If we can't resign Bennett, we'll pretty much have the pick of the litter.

I think the chances of a team giving him that kind of deal aren't great. While I don't expect the DE market to be as down as it was last year, I don't see a team throwing Mario Williams money at Bennett just because they have the cap space. And most teams with that kind of space either don't have a history of paying out big money for FAs or have greater needs than what Bennett can address for them.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

The problem with the Redskins and Cowboys is that they were overpaying for other teams' players and not doing a good job of determining fit into their systems. They were going for names over schematic fits. When you have a guy that excels in your system, you keep him. And I think Bennett is our most valuable non-secondary defensive player.

Again, most of us are agreeing with you. BUT, if another team that has a ton of cap space like GB is willing to overpay for Bennett, then we have to let him go.

Bennett's made it crystal clear that he's not going to take less to stay here.

I love Bennett, you love Bennett, we all love Bennett. If we can sign him for a Clem type contract, then I'm in. But if he's going to command a 12-15 million per year deal? Nope. I trust JS to let him go and go find us another motivated D-Lineman that can produce for much less.

Remember, FA's are going to be falling over backwards to come play here now. If we can't resign Bennett, we'll pretty much have the pick of the litter.

I think the chances of a team giving him that kind of deal aren't great. While I don't expect the DE market to be as down as it was last year, I don't see a team throwing Mario Williams money at Bennett just because they have the cap space. And most teams with that kind of space either don't have a history of paying out big money for FAs or have greater needs than what Bennett can address for them.

I hope you're right, but I think Bennett is THE biggest free agent D-Lineman on the market because of his unique ability to play effectively anywhere on the line. So unlike Tate who's gonna find out his worth is most here, Bennett's not going to have that same problem.

 

[jblaze]

I think Michael can get close to Geno Atkins money. 5 years 54.75 million. Geno got a 15 Million dollar signing bonus which won't be happening here.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bre ... -deal.html

More power to him, he's looking out for his family. He's been a great player, a team player, all year, unselfish, and very entertaining on the radio.

I'll miss the guy, but we already have Percy Harvin making that kind of money. (6 years 64 million)

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/seattle-seah ... cy-harvin/

Thank you Michael Bennett! :th2thumbs:

11mil a year??? ROFL.

You might want to check your addition. 55 million minus a 15 million dollar signing bonus is 40 million, over 5 years is 8 million dollars a year. I said he "can get close" to that, which means a little less. Or did you even read my post and/or the article?

Wrong, your addition and understanding of the salary cap is flawed.

Signing bonuses are averaged over the life of the contract so there is no minus 15mil. That would be ridiculous and an easy way to circumvent the salary cap completely. This isn't the MLB. I would love your fantasy world though because Paul Allen could just throw cash at people and we could be the Yankees of the NFL.

40m base salary with 15m in singing bonus over 5 years is still 11m per year.

He's not getting anywhere "close" to 11m/year here or anywhere. Hell, Robert Quinn (younger, more production, potential DPOY) won't be getting that next year and the cap will increase significantly due to tv contract money.

 

[Seahawk772002]

For Bennett and Golden it is about a business both long and short term.

Is it about short term happiness returning to be with brothers who got you back and being able to take care of family long term?

Seattle has something special that may be able to amalgamate both long and short term business and personal side of football.

Am I just a fan basking in the title glow; thinking with my heart not even approaching reality?

 

[jblaze]

How does this have 7 pages of comments?

It's the off season.

7 pages about a player? This isn't a uniform thread we're talking about

Free agent discussion is about all you have in the off season and he's our #1 target, of course people are going to talk about it. There's a forum for draft/combine topics so this is what you get here.

We're all arm chair GM's who love to prognosticate, it's the only thing that keeps us interested in the offseason.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Am I just a fan basking in the title glow; thinking with my heart not even approaching reality?

Yes, yes you are.

Bennett could not have made himself more clear Monday night on the NFL network. "There's no such thing as a hometown discount, this ain't Walmart, this ain't Costco............"

 

[Missing_Clink]

What can he get on the open market? Paul Kruger was the only DE that really got a big deal last offseason at 5 years, $40 mil. He then went on to have a pretty unimpressive season. Would somebody throw more money that than at Bennett? Could 5 years for $30 mil get it done?

 

[jblaze]

Also I don't really blame him. He basically has played two years on "prove it" contracts and he's done so. It's time to get paid, it's his last best shot at a decent contract before he's over the hill. Last year there just wasn't much of a market for pass rushers, thus the two relatively cheap contracts for Avril and Bennett. I think this year will be the same however so he'll stay but he'll need to verify that first. You can't do anything about the market, it dictates terms.

However, next year the cap is supposed to increase significantly and I know teams have been structuring contracts for bigger hits in that year and players have been signing deals that end after 2014 in hopes of getting that big contract. I just don't think Bennett can wait another yet.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

What can he get on the open market? Paul Kruger was the only DE that really got a big deal last offseason at 5 years, $40 mil. He then went on to have a pretty unimpressive season. Would somebody throw more money that than at Bennett? Could 5 years for $30 mil get it done?

I would not be OK with giving a 28 year old player a five year contract, unless he plays QB.

Kruger is also a great cautionary example for GM's on bad teams that giving a player like Bennett 30-40 million over 4-5 years isn't a wise decision. Kruger was good with Baltimore because he was on a very good defense, just like Bennett here.

You put Bennett on a mediocre to terrible defense, and you're not going to get value to justify a huge contract.

 

[jblaze]

Paul Kruger got all that money from the Browns, nuff said.

 

[chrispy]

Has there ever been as much cap space available in the league?

I'm not a capologist so I don't consistently follow, and admittedly, the Raider's situation may skew my perception. They have 65 million in cap space. Then Jax with 55 mil, and Cle with 46mill. Although there will obviously be some FA deals (like Bennett was last year), there's also some probability that some of these teams that are in cap heaven -and required to spend it- will be paying asking prices to whomever they evaluate as top talent. With the team personality in Jax being similar to Seattle, I could see a number of players ending up there.

Isn't it more likely that a few low-cost/2nd tier players come here on one year, prove it deals? If the team can make someone like Bennett productive in '13, why can't they do it again in '14? They also did it with Avril, Clemmons, McDonald and maybe throw in Mcdaniel (trade, not FA) too. With a + track record, it seems like they can create a pass rush with FAs that no one else wants. Let's do that instead of breaking the bank on Bennett.

 

[Evil_Shenanigans]

Bennett earned a raise! He knows (or soon will) what his value is. He is a 29 year old player who had a good year, and there are a ton of other players out there that might be willing to do a one year deal just like he did to get a ring. If Seattle were to offer him a Chris Clemons clone type deal ~3YR/21M I think he would jump on it. Anything beyond that is going to seriously come into play a year from now when we have to pay Russell. With JS/PC's penchant for spotting inexpensive top level talent you never know what they might do.

 

[kobebryant]

I generally hate that the "hometown discount" question is even asked of athletes. Puts them in a no win situation no matter their response.

 

[ivotuk]

I think Michael can get close to Geno Atkins money. 5 years 54.75 million. Geno got a 15 Million dollar signing bonus which won't be happening here.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Bre ... -deal.html

More power to him, he's looking out for his family. He's been a great player, a team player, all year, unselfish, and very entertaining on the radio.

I'll miss the guy, but we already have Percy Harvin making that kind of money. (6 years 64 million)

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/seattle-seah ... cy-harvin/

Thank you Michael Bennett! :th2thumbs:

11mil a year??? ROFL.

You might want to check your addition. 55 million minus a 15 million dollar signing bonus is 40 million, over 5 years is 8 million dollars a year. I said he "can get close" to that, which means a little less. Or did you even read my post and/or the article?

Wrong, your addition and understanding of the salary cap is flawed.

Signing bonuses are averaged over the life of the contract so there is no minus 15mil. That would be ridiculous and an easy way to circumvent the salary cap completely. This isn't the MLB. I would love your fantasy world though because Paul Allen could just throw cash at people and we could be the Yankees of the NFL.

40m base salary with 15m in singing bonus over 5 years is still 11m per year.

He's not getting anywhere "close" to 11m/year here or anywhere. Hell, Robert Quinn (younger, more production, potential DPOY) won't be getting that next year and the cap will increase significantly due to tv contract money.

Once again, you did NOT read my post. Nor did you read the article to which I referred. I'm talking about a yearly average minus the signing bonus. But you already had your mind made up what you were going to say anyway.

I would pay Quinn 11 million in a heartbeat.