Bennett Alludes to Holdout Plans

Seahawks DE Michael Bennett, unhappy with the four-year contract he signed just last offseason, is unlikely to report for the start of Seattle’s training camp later next month.

The versatile pass rusher is currently in Hawaii, where he lives during the offseason. He returned there after attending a recent mandatory mini camp, but it appears that may have been his last act of contractual compliance for the foreseeable future.

“I don’t mind staying home for a little while,” Bennett told KHON2-TV. “Hawaii’s weather is great, so I’ll just keep it at that.”

Bennett has three-years remaining on the four-year, $28.5 million deal he signed last offseason. He wants to be paid among the top-10 defensive ends in game, which would require an annual pay increase of approximately $3 million.

Bennett risks being fined $30,000 for each day of training camp he misses. But his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has a history of enduring short-term losses in pursuit of long-term gains.

“I think I’ve outplayed the contract that they gave me,” Bennett said. “It’s one of those things where you have to let your agent do the talking with the team and hopefully something good comes out of it. It never hurts to try.”

It’s unlikely Seattle GM John Schneider will get to Bennett’s contract any time soon. The Seahawks have more pressing matters to take care of first, such as working out a new deal with franchise QB Russell Wilson.

When it is Bennett’s turn at the table, it’s unlikely Schneider will cave in and give him a new deal. Doing such would set a bad precedent for the rest of the roster, which includes several players looking to cash in on Seattle’s sustained success.

Bengals Troll Browns Again

Cincinnati’s coordinators must have designs on pushing for head coaching jobs next offseason, because they are doing everything possible to keep their names in the headlines.

Offensive coordinator (and former Raiders head coach) Hue Jackson has spent his offseason spouting off about Andy Dalton’s potential, A.J. McCarron’s ascension, Cincinnati’s playoff prospects and the dreaded “Bungles” label.

Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther made some headlines of his own this week by talking about a topic sure to garner national attention: Browns QB Johnny Manziel.

“Honestly, I think the kid needs more time,” Guenther told ESPN.com.

The low point of Manziel’s rookie season (on the field, anyway) came during a 30-0 home loss to the Bengals. He finished that game with just 80 passing yards, two interceptions and a passer rating of 27.3

Guenther recommends Manziel channel another undersized quarterback: Drew Brees.

“Drew Brees did it,” Guenther said. “I know Drew is a little bit thicker than Johnny but about the same height. … I don’t see any reason why he can’t do it up there. (Manziel) was such a high-profile guy out of college and everyone expected what he did at Texas A&M, but it’s a man’s game, it’s a lot different, and it takes time. You have to take your lumps a little bit.”

This trolling job is almost on par with the Bengals mocking the Browns’ new “colors” earlier this offseason.

Sure, it would be great if Manziel played like Drew Brees. It would also be great if Dalton morphed into Tom Brady come playoff time. Unfortunately, it is not that easy.

Weatherford Bashes Eagles QBs

Giants punter Steve Weatherford is apparently doing his best Pat McAfee impression.

Weatherford appeared on WFAN’s Boomer and Carton Show on Friday and dropped some interesting analogies when asked to discuss Philadelphia’s quarterback situation.

“I’m gonna give you a Ferrari (Sam Bradford) that maybe won’t be running all the time, or I’m giving you a nice Cadillac sedan (Mark Sanchez),” Weatherford said, via ESPN.com. “It’s not the fastest but you know what you’re going to get out of it. Bradford can go from zero to 60 in three seconds, but you don’t know if he’s gonna start up some days.”

Weatherford went on to caution Eagles coach Chip Kelly against giving Bradford a contract extension. The former No. 1 overall pick is entering the final year of his contract.

“Chip Kelly will get himself in serious trouble if they get an extension for [Bradford],” Weatherford said. “And (if) he gets hurt? He’s done.”

Of course, no conversation of Philadelphia’s quarterback group can be complete without mention of the polarizing Tim Tebow.

Weatherford actually offered high praise for Tebow … just not when it comes to his work on the field.

“I’m the biggest Tim Tebow fan in the world,” Weatherford said. “I mean, who wouldn’t want their daughter to date a guy like that? I’ll tell you what, I don’t want him taking snaps for my team.”

Instead, the guy the Giants have taking snaps is Eli Manning, who is less than two years removed from a 2013 campaign in which he threw just 18 touchdowns against 27 interceptions. Yes, the same Manning who has led the Giants to an unspectacular 49-47 record over the last six years, including back-to-back losing seasons.

As the old saying goes, those who live in glass houses should stick to punting.

More on Manning

Eli Manning, like Bradford, is entering the final year of his contract.

But because Manning does not share Bradford’s medical red flags, he is guaranteed to get a massive extension. This according to a history lesson provided by Manning’s agent, Tom Condon.

“The interesting part about it is, since 1993, the inception of free agency, has there ever been an elite quarterback hit the open market?” Condon asked, according to the New York Daily News. “Peyton (Manning did in 2012), but he had four neck surgeries and no idea if he would ever be well enough to play. Drew Brees, when he went to New Orleans (in 2006), he had 15 studs in his shoulder, in his throwing arm (from a hit he took in the final game of 2005).

“There’s nobody else that’s ever come up. They just re-do you.”

Manning has stated he is comfortable playing out the final year of his deal. It’s a good move on his part, as new quarterback contracts around the league (such as the recent deals signed by Ryan Tannehill and Cam Newton) are only inflating the value of the position.

Manning might as well enjoy a monster 2015 season (and with Odell Beckham Jr. in the fold, that seems inevitable) and cash in next offseason.

“The quarterbacks always get done,” Condon said. “And the Giants are not a skittish team. So it’s not one of those things where they get nervous or they jump around or anything like that. You know you’re going to go in and it’s going to get done. I’m sure at the appropriate time it’ll happen.”

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