Report: Michael Bennett Suspended By Patriots

The New England Patriots decided to suspend defensive end Michael Bennett for a disagreement over his role with the team.

“On Friday, I had a philosophical disagreement with my position coach that has led to my suspension,” Bennett told ESPN’s Jordan Schultz in a statement. “I apologize to my teammates for any distraction this may have caused.”

Bret Bielema is defensive line coach with the team, and he took part in the process.

Bennett will be suspended for one week as confirmed by NFL Media’s Mike Giardi and Ian Rapoport. According to the latter, this suspension is “conduct detrimental.”

The defensive end plays 35.71 percent of the defensive snaps for the Patriots. This is down from the 68.98 percent he had with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Bennett played just 11 snaps in the game against the New York Giants. He had five tackles, 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss in six games this season. Bennett started one game.

He didn’t attend Tuesday’s practice.

Bennett missed three practices of training camp, but head coach Bill Belichick was full of understanding for him. It looks like Bennett crossed the line this time.

“I think everybody’s always concerned about how their boss is going to take into consideration if something happens back home, but when you have a boss who respects you as a man, it’s easy to go out there and play for him like that,” he said. “I think for me, that’s easy to look him in the eye and whatever he asks me to do, I’ll do it simply because I know he respects me as a human being and I respect that.”

The defensive end was good with the Eagles, but he likes the idea of playing with the defending champions. It’s a big opportunity for a player of his caliber, and hopefully, this problem won’t happen again.

“I think the opportunity to build teams, that’s what’s the best part of the game. I love winning, but I also love to build a great relationship with new people and the opportunity to be put in new positions and try new things,” he said in one occasion. “The opportunity to have that growth; I’ve been comfortable in Seattle over there. Now it’s time for me to take another step in something I can improve in, whatever they ask me to do, things I’m not used to do doing, and I want to improve on that.”