The New England Patriots traded Michael Bennett just a few days after the team suspended him for what he called philosophical differences with the coaching staff. It didn’t seem like a functional working relationship.
But perhaps he left New England without hard feelings. After all, he landed in Dallas with the Cowboys, who deployed him in a much more natural position for his skillset. He played at a much higher level with the Cowboys than he did with the Patriots.
“For me, I think I had a great experience with the Patriots,” Bennett told NESN’s Doug Kyed Wednesday at radio row in Miami ahead of Super Bowl 54. “I think schematically, I just didn’t fit in with the things they were doing, that what I wanted to do. It was just better for me to go to the Cowboys, I think. That’s what it really worked down to really. Bill Belichick, I think he’s really a straightforward person when it comes to the plan. The only thing he cares about is really not feelings or anything, it’s just about winning.”
The issue of transparency came up earlier this week when defensive lineman Mike Pennel admitted he didn’t feel like Belichick was completely honest. The Patriots cut Pennel, who landed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He will compete in the Super Bowl this weekend.
But that wasn’t the issue with Bennett. The scheme was the biggest problem for Bennett. New England went from a four-man line to a 2-man amoeba front, thereby putting Bennett in a position he’d never played.
“I think it was one of those things that was mostly just different,” Bennett said. “Went from one lineman on the field or two linemen from what I was used to doing with four. It was different.”
Bennett also set out to clear up the status of his relationship with defensive line coach Bret Bielema, who was reportedly at the middle of the philosophical differences with the Patriots.
“Bret was a good guy,” Bennett said. “I think Bret is a great person when it comes to schematic football and understanding football from a holistic perspective. Because he’s been a head coach, he’s been a defensive line coach, a D-coordinator, been all different types of coach. So I feel in the Patriots, it was an opportunity to learn so much more about football and not just football but also how to run a business and just keeping your stuff really tight and keeping it cool.”
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