Bennett brothers reunite when Seahawks, Packers meet in season opener on Sunday
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers tight end Martellus Bennett plans to give his older brother, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, a hug when he sees him this weekend.
Recent events off the field make the high-profile season opener on Sunday between Green Bay and Seattle seem trivial by comparison. Martellus Bennett, who went to high school in Taylor, Texas, has been working to raise money and supplies for residents of flood-ravaged parts of that state. And this week, Michael Bennett released a statement that alleged racially motivated excessive force by the Las Vegas police.
“Sometimes, a hug is the best thing you can give,” Martellus Bennett said as his voice started cracking. He talks to his brother several times a week.
“Two seconds this way, two seconds that way, the whole thing is different,” he added. “So for me, I’ll just be happy to see my brother.”
Once the game kicks off, the Bennett brothers probably won’t have to face each other on the field. But the matchup between Seattle’s tough-as-nails defence and Green Bay’s potent offence should be intriguing.
The Seahawks have added tackle Sheldon Richardson in a trade from the New York Jets to a star-studded defence that also has All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner, safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman.
Bennett is making his debut for the Packers, the latest inviting target for two-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The game could be much more competitive than the teams’ last meeting in December, when Thomas missed the 38-10 loss to Green Bay in December because of a broken leg.
“You remember the score? Because I don’t,” defensive end Cliff Avril said.
Other notes and things to watch ahead of Sunday’s game:
EARL IS BACK: Thomas appears to be fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him late last season. The free safety is such a key cog in Seattle because of an ability to cover so much ground in the defensive backfield. The 66-yard touchdown pass that Packers receiver Davante Adams had last year against Seattle might not have occurred if Thomas was on the field.
“Absolutely, that’s a big difference,” Packers wideout Jordy Nelson said. “He’s smart the way he can read things. The ground that he can cover makes a big difference for what they do in the back end.”
READING RODGERS: Few quarterbacks are better than Rodgers at sensing pressure in the pocket. Throw in the solid protection Rodgers receives from his starting offensive line, along with his knack for manoeuvring out of trouble, and the Seahawks will be hard-pressed to get to the quarterback, even with all their talent on defence.
“He might even laugh at you after he throws a bomb after you miss a sack. He’s definitely pretty calm back there. Those are the guys you get frustrated with,” Avril said.
SPLITTING CARRIES: Seattle would like to see Thomas Rawls be the primary ball carrier and Eddie Lacy serve as a complement. But Rawls is still trying to get fully healthy after being slowed late in the preseason by a high-ankle injury, meaning Lacy could be the No. 1 back in his return to Green Bay.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he would be fine with that scenario and said Lacy can handle 20 to 25 carries in a game.
“He’s had a great run with us getting to this point,” Carroll said.