New England Patriots defensive lineman Michael Bennett recently indicated that he is unhappy with his role on the team, and that role will be reduced to zero for at least next Monday’s game against the New York Jets.
The Patriots have suspended Bennett one game for conduct detrimental to the team, Ian Rapoport and Mike Giardi of NFL Network first reported. Bennett later issued a statement saying he had a “philosophical disagreement” with a position coach — former Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema — last week and apologized for becoming a distraction.
Just spoke with #Pats DE Michael Bennett, who provided this statement to ESPN re his one-week suspension: “On Friday, I had a philosophical disagreement with my position coach that has led to my suspension. I apologize to my teammates for any distraction this may have caused.”
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 15, 2019
Bennett played just 22 percent of New England’s defensive snaps in last week’s win over the New York Giants, and he later told a local reporter that he had no idea he would play so little and is unsure of why his role has been reduced. Bill Belichick was asked leading up to the game about Bennett’s snap count decreasing, and he said the veteran is “still trying to adapt to our system.”
Bennett and Belichick appeared to have established a great relationship prior to the season, so it’s possible the coach simply feels other players are a better fit. With a defense that is on pace to potentially be the best in NFL history, Belichick certainly shouldn’t change anything he is doing. There has been talk that Bennett could be traded before the Oct. 29 deadline, and that may be even more likely now.
