Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett is seeking an upgraded contract and says he might hold out of training camp in an effort to get it.
Bennett is entering the second year of a four-year, $28.5 million contract that guaranteed him $16 million and will pay him $6 million this year and $5 million in 2016.
He told NFL Media on Monday that a holdout is “definitely possible” despite the threat of fines for missing training camp practices.
“I know a lot of people disagree because I don’t put up all the numbers; but, if you watch the games, I’m doing good things,” he said. “They want me to play five positions but pay me for one.”
Bennett, 29, said his agent has talked to the Seahawks, but the team apparently has not said whether it would be willing to rework his deal.
On Saturday, the Hawaii resident told Honolulu TV station KHON, “Of course, I think I’ve outplayed the contract that they gave me. 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.”
As for the possible holdout, he told KHON, “Hawaii’s weather is great, so I’ll just keep it at that. … I don’t mind staying home for a little while.”