SEAHAWKS' BENNETT REPORTEDLY HAS ROTATOR CUFF TEAR
When it seems too good to be true, it usually is and in the case of the Seattle Seahawks defensive juggernaut for 2013, part of it IS too good to be true. ESPN Insider, Adam Shefter, reported on ESPN.com that newly signed free-agent defensive end Michael Bennett has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff. The injury is relatively serious, however Bennett played all 16 games last year for the first time in his career with the injury and recorded nine sacks, also a career-high. Many believe this is the reason for the one-year contract for $5 million with the Seattle Seahawks, definitely a team friendly contract.
So what does this mean for the Seahawks? That's undetermined for now, and the Seahawks didn't make this announcement. Somehow, Adam Shefter learned of this injury and reported it Sunday afternoon. Bennett had a decent year with the Buccaneers despite the injury, so Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider must have felt okay about the terms of the contract to help them out during the up coming season. Beyond that, remains to be seen for Bryant and the Seahawks. No reports have been released but the Seahawks have voided the contract because of the injury, but even at a one-year contract of $5 million, it does take a chunk out of money that could have been used for perhaps John Abraham, Elvis Dumervil, Dwight Freeney or Osi Umenyiora, or even another free-agent position like; safeties Charles Woodson or Dashon Goldson, guards Brandon Moore or Andy Levitre, tackles Jake Long or Sebastian Vollmer, or maybe an outside linebacker like James Harrison, Justin Durrant or Paul Kruger.
Regardless, The Seahawks aren't wallowing in the same idea of defensive line elite-ness that they were yesterday, at least that's the way it seems now. One of the big questions is how this will affect Bennett throughout the season. Several players in the past have played with torn labrum injuries and played fairly well. The San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle elite, Alden Smith, played the 2012 season with a torn labrum and was forced to miss the last game of the season and his performance suffered greatly throughout the playoffs including the Super Bowl. One thing in Seattle's favor, is that the 49ers play their defensive starters 95% of the time and in addition to wearing their careers short, Smith was never able to rest his shoulder all season long. Seattle signed Michael Bennett to be a situational defensive lineman playing on passing downs primarily and rushing the quarterback. One thing that will be critical is which shoulder is injured, the right or the left shoulder? Bennett is a left defensive end primarily coming at the quarterback from left to right and if his right shoulder is injured, a could be significant. However, if it's his right shoulder, that would certainly be in Seattle's favor and Bennett's.
On a personal level, I was very disappointed to hear of Shefter's report. A lot of Seattle Seahawks fans, including myself, were practically giddy with excitement thinking of the kind of defensive rush and havoc that the Seahawks could create with; Bruce Irvin, Cliff Avril, Chris Clemons and Michael Bennett plus any gems that Schneider might find in the draft. Not to mention the bull rush of pressure created up the middle created by; Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Clinton McDonald and Alan Branch (if he is re-signed). The thought of all those players coming after the quarterback, like heatseeking missiles, is nothing short of frightening "Shock and Awe" to any quarterback choosing to stay in the passing pocket for more than about 1 second.
The latest news is a bit disappointing, but I have to remind myself that Carroll and Schneider put Bennett through a field and physical skills tryout and an extensive medical examination by the team physician. They had to believe ($5 million worth) that Bennett could provide the Seahawks with a season of good production or I believe they would have passed on him. John Abraham came to Seattle for the same tryout process and they passed on him, and he would have been had cheaper than Bennett and I don't think it is due to their ages. Bennett is only 27 years old, but Seattle only signed him to a one-year deal. I don't believe John Abraham would have had a multi-year deal, either… Not at 34, 35 years old.
For now, after I calmed myself down a little, I'm going to believe in Carroll and Schneider. I would have been happier with Elvis Dumervil or Osi Umenyiora, but the Seahawks chose to go a different way and maybe there's more activity in free-agent see to come. Personally, I'm pulling for Charles Woodson to join the best defensive secondary in football and make it even better. Woodson's in Seattle would be decreased, but the Seahawks need a veteran presence in the nickel formation and Marcus Trufant was a glaring weakness in Seattle's pass defense last year and it was very obvious. The best defensive backfield in football can have that… I think Woodson would be a great fit in Seattle and corner Richard Sherman already gave a shout out to Woodson that he would be welcomed in a Seahawks uniform. Hopefully, that will count for something… One thing is for certain… We will keep watching.
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