Seattle Seahawks

Cliff Avril 'doesn't fault' Michael Bennett for wanting a new deal

Published Jun. 26, 2015 10:29 a.m. ET

foxsports

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett is looking for a new deal, despite signing a four-year contract worth over $28 million just last year. Teammate Cliff Avril says he completely understands Bennett's point of view and supports him in getting a new deal.

“Me and Mike talk pretty often actually,” Avril told SiriusXM NFL Radio, via Pro Football Talk. “We probably talk three, four times a week. As far as his mindset and another businessman in this league, I’ve been through the whole contract situation, so I don’t fault him from wanting a new deal from a standpoint of they cut you after a year if they feel you don't play as well as that contract.

“If you feel like you outplayed the contract after a year, go for it. What’s the worst they can tell you? I don’t blame him for that...Hopefully they figure something out, if not this year, hopefully he outplays it again next year and they make sure something happens next year.”

It is unlikely the Seahawks will be willing to budge since he is under contract for another three years. Bennett has the option of holding out, but it will cost him money for every mandatory session he misses.

Avril went on to say that nobody wants to leave the Seahawks with all their success and doesn't believe these ongoing contract negotiations are causing any problems in the locker room.

“Everybody wants to be in Seattle,” Avril said. “Nobody wants to leave Seattle. Everybody wants to be there because we have something good going. But at the same time, I understand why guys feel like they may have outplayed a contract. In our league, the team’s the only one’s that’s not liable for the rest of the contract really. When they want to get rid of you, they get rid of you. As a player, whenever you feel like you should be trying to cash in, why not go for it? But I don’t think that affects anything chemistry-wise in our locker room or anything like that.”

(h/t Pro Football Talk)