Michael Bennett was once a lot like many bitter NFL fans across the country. During some point in the veteran's 10-year career, he “hated” the New England Patriots. Now that he's in Foxboro chasing championship rings, though, Bennett is singing a much different tune.
“I used to hate the Patriots,” he told ESPN's Mike Reiss. “I'd hate it because they'd win so much. I'd hate it because Tom Brady's hair was long. I'd hate it that [Bill] Belichick would wear sweaters. But now that I'm here, I love you. I love Tom Brady's hair.”
“I love being a Patriot because, obviously, it's all about winning,” Bennett continued. “I think everything about the organization is about team-first. It's just about doing what you need to do to get to where we want to go as a group. I think I love that.”
The Patriots agreed to acquire Bennett from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2020 fifth-round pick over the weekend, a deal that also included a 2020 seventh-rounder going back to Philadelphia. The trade couldn't be consummated until Wednesday afternoon, when the league year officially began.
A three-time Pro Bowler with the Seattle Seahawks, Bennett finished with nine sacks and 30 quarterback hits during his lone season with the Eagles, his best numbers in both categories since 2015. The 33 year old also had 34 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles, thriving as part of Philadelphia's rotation along the defensive line rather than serving as an every-down player.
Bennett is likely to play a similar role in New England, who lost star pass-rusher Trey Flowers to the Detroit Lions in free agency.
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