Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
‘Average guy’ Bennett likes vibe in Philly
PHILADELPHIA » Eagles pass rusher Michael Bennett is a lot like your average guy.
When work permits Bennett to take time off, he does. He spent most of the offseason taking care of family responsibilities. Only the minicamp is mandatory, and that’s where he was Tuesday at the NovaCare Complex.
“This is the only job in the world where it’s voluntary,” Bennett said, “and people expect you to show up.”
Bennett has had an eventful offseason, starting with the trade that sent him to the Eagles for wide receiver Marcus Johnson and a fifth-round draft pick. The Seahawks are divesting themselves of highpriced veteran defenders with Super Bowl rings.
Later in March, Bennett was charged with allegedly assaulting a 66-year-old paraplegic security worker at Super Bowl LI in Houston.
After the Patriots beat the Falcons, Bennett pushed through security “including the elderly woman who was part of the security team,” according to prosecutors, to get to his brother Martellus Bennett, who played for the Patriots.
If Michael Bennett is found guility of a single felony charge of injury to the elderly, he could get a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
“Obviously that’s not me,” Bennett said. “I’m just a father and a husband who tries to do the right thing. The most important thing to me is just to try to be a great human being.
“I just let my lawyer handle it and just do what I need to do on the field. Me being here, it’s just all about football. I’m trying to be a great player, be a great teammate and be a great citizen.”
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson needs the 32-yearold Bennett to rush the passer.
Coordinator Jim Schwartz sent Bennett out with the second-team defense during the team drills Tuesday. The coaching staff needs to get a snapshot of how to incorporate the versatile pass rusher into the lineup this season with Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Chris Long and Derek Barnett.
“I’m pretty comfortable just getting used to the different terminology,” Bennett said. “They’re just going to move me around. One day you do this and the next day you do that. It’s just about learning the defense and trying to fit in the best way you can. You’re playing with a lot of great all-stars around you like Fletch, BG, Chris, Derek. There’s a lot of good guys around me.”
It’s early but Bennett likes being part of the Eagles and the Philly scene.
“A lot of teams you’re never really a part of the city,” Bennett said. “In Philly, you become a part of the city with everything you do. Philly is a whole ‘nother vibe and I’m liking it. And I think it’s an opportunity to grow as an individual and grow as a person and grow into a family.”
Pederson doesn’t know what he’ll get out of Bennett this week. He wants the veteran to get snaps with the first-team defense.
“It will be tough with three days of work,” Pederson said of bringing Bennett along with the team. “Obviously he’ll be in there with the first unit just understanding the defense and getting that down. But he’s a veteran guy. I’m not worried too much about where he’s at right now. But it’s just exciting to be able to have everybody out there and see all the pieces these next couple of days.”
*** Running back Darren Sproles, who skipped the voluntary practices to rehab a knee injury, was at camp returning punts.
It was the first time Sproles, 34, did anything at practcie since fracturing his forearm and tearing up a knee in last September.
“It felt great to be back,” Sproles said. “My knee is feeling great. The whole offseason I’ve been rehabbing, working out. Just pretty much doing my regular stuff. Really, if they let me go full-go, I could. They’re just holding me back a little bit.”
Sproles re-signed with the Eagles instead of retiring because he had unfinished business.
“The way I went out last year, if I would have retired after that, I might think later on, down the line, it wouldn’t have been right for me,” Sproles said.
Since then the kickoff rules have changed to the extent where the play is much like a punt.
Special teams coach Dave Fipp aleady is figuring out how to use Sproles, the dynamic punt returner, on kickoffs as the team tries to get him back up to the speed his teammates have been accustomed to seeing each week out on the practice field and in games.
Pederson pumped the brakes on that.
“I’m very pleased where he’s at,” Pederson said. “If you know Darren like I do, you know he’s ready to get back out there and go full speed. But at the same time I want to make sure these guys are 100 percent.”
*** The objectives in this minicamp are the same as the first two for Pederson.
Everyone together now, stay healthy.
“Don’t have any further injuries from where we’re at,” Pederson said. “It’s a chance to get the team together for the first time and really it sort of springboards us right into training camp. So, some good work in the next couple of days, situational things that I’ll put together in practice. And then really on Thursday, just wrap it up and keep the guys focused and motivated for July 25, when they get back. But I think the goal this week is not to have any further injury.”
*** NOTES » Cornerback Sidney Jones, who battled back from a torn Achilles’ tendon last year and eventually earned his way onto the playing field Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, sat out practice on Tuesday and might not be fully healthy again until the team reports again for training camp ... Rodney McLeod picked off Carson Wentz during 7-on-7’s ... One of the best throws during practice occurred when Nate Sudfeld looped a scoring pass over double coverage to rookie tight end Dallas Goedert. It looked like Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski ... The Eagles practice Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday evening they’re slated to pick up their Super Bowl LII championship rings. “I know we’re all really excited, we’re all honored to get them,” quarterback Nick Foles said. This is something you dream about as a kid. We’re trying to really focus on this minicamp now because come Thursday, we’re all going to be really excited.”