The Seattle Seahawks cut defensive end Michael Bennett back in 2009 in order to keep a second kicker on the roster. That was a different Michael Bennett, however.
In the five years after that, Bennett raised his stock as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before becoming a full-on force for the Seahawks' vaunted defense since his return in 2013.
“His tenacity and the things about him internally,” defensive line coach Travis Jones said recently, via Jayson Jenks of the Seattle Times. “He’s got a huge competitive nature about him.”
Bennett has grown by leaps and bounds since being cut as an undrafted rookie back in 2009. Now he knows exactly what it takes to succeed on this level.
“Every time you get up there you’re going to have a choice,” Bennett said. “You’re either going to put your body on the line or you’re not. Every time, I’m going to do it.”
Bennett has done exactly that in 2014, as Pro Football Focus ranks him as the second-best player at his position - quite an accomplishment for a guy who was struggling to find job security just a half decade ago.
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