PHOENIX – Seattle defensive end Michael Bennett, who led the Seahawks with seven sacks during the regular season, believes the Patriots present a much stiffer challenge than Denver did in last season's Super Bowl.
"I think it's their up-tempo offense,” Bennett said. “(Patriots running back) LeGarrette Blount, I played with him for three years in Tampa. He's an awesome back. (Patriots tight end) Robert (Gronkowski) is a great tight end. Thomas (Brady) is a great quarterback.
“It's one of those things where they have a great team, and we have to be ready for the weapons that they have."
Bennett was signed to a one-year, $4.8 million contract after the 2012 season. After a strong season, he was rewarded with a four-year, $28.5 million contract after flirting with joining his younger brother Martellus Bennett with the Chicago Bears.
"I just love playing the game and just going out there,” Bennett said. “This is the only time you can hit people and curse and kick people, and it's legal."
When it looked like he was set to leave, Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman called.
"It was really hard,” Bennett said. “My brother plays for the Bears and there were a lot of teams that came, but the only teams I took really serious were the Bears and the Seahawks.”
In the end, the Seahawks recruitment won Bennett over.
“Sherm' (Sherman) called me a lot,” Bennett said. “The rest of the guys called me, and they said that I was one of the key players of the defense. That made me want to come back.”
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