New Bird Bennett in trouble with the law
Michael Bennett’s past is catching up to him.
The newly acquired defensive end was indicted Friday by a grand jury in Harris County, according to report in the Houston Chronicle, on a felony charge of injuring an elderly person at Super Bowl LI.
The Eagles threw water on the matter with a vague statement.
“We are aware of the situation involving Michael Bennett and are in the process of gathering more information,” the statement read. “Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time.”
The act allegedly occurred during the post-game celebration of the New England Patriots, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons.
Bennett reportedly injured a 66-year-old quadriplegic woman on the NRG Stadium security team while pushing his way through a crowd to be with his brother, then Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said Bennett allegedly told the people he had pushed, “You all must know who I am and I can own this (expletive). I’m going down to the field, whether you like it or not.”
Acevedo called Bennett “morally bankrupt” for pushing the two women. Police said the disabled woman suffered a sprained shoulder when she was allegedly pushed by Bennett, hitting the back of her 800-pound, motorized wheelchair.
“Mr. Bennett may think that because he’s an NFL player and some time passed ... he may have thought that, number one, rules don’t apply to him, number two, he doesn’t have to respect the dignity of a paraplegic woman who’s trying to earn a living,” Acevedo said at a news conference.
Acevedo said a detective did not actively start working the case until September because the police department had prioritized more serious cases.
The report said Bennett ignored orders to use a different entrance for field access and pushed the woman.
Injury to the elderly for intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to a person 65 years or older carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The Eagles acquired Bennett and a seventhround draft pick from the Seahawks for wide receiver Marcus Johnson and a fifth-round selection, well aware of the veteran’s off-the-field past.
Bennett, after the Floyd MayweatherConor McGregor fight in 2017, accused Las Vegas police of using excessive force after they detained him when shots were fired. Bennett said police pointed their guns at him for “nothing more than being a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Police denied the accusations and released video they said proves there was no wrongdoing. The Las Vegas police union demanded the NFL investigate Bennett. The league dismissed the request.
Bennett, 32, has 54 sacks in nine NFL seasons, including 8 1/2 last year with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks have been moving on from aging veterans, getting rid of Bennett and releasing cornerback Richard Sherman, also outspoken.
The Eagles are counting on Bennett to rush the passer inside at tackle and outside at end. They also appreciate his runstopping ability.