Michael Bennett: Force of Nature

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has fiery opinions on just about everything, even that galaxy far, far away. “I’m a Star Wars guy. It’s so funny: This is a make-believe world, but people are upset about the fact that [actor John Boyega, who plays a stormtrooper in the new movie] is black, Bennett says. “People are racist, and they don’t even know why they’re racist; they’re racist in a fake world!” In celebration of this week’s long-awaited premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Bennett, dressed as a jedi, shares some more words of wisdom and strength that would make Yoda proud.

Michael Bennett: Force of Nature

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated; Photo Illustration by SI Premedia

"As a black man in America, and as an athlete, we should speak up more about things, like Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali did.”

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated; Photo Illustration by SI Premedia

On Ben Carson: "I don’t trust him because of the way he moves his hands. Something about his hands tells me he’s telling a lie."

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated; Photo Illustration by SI Premedia

On legalizing marijuana: “If you’re going to legalize cigarettes and liquor, I don’t see why marijuana shouldn’t be legalized. At the end of the day they all do the same thing.”

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated; Photo Illustration by SI Premedia

On the player’s union: "We can’t come to agreement on things. That’s why we’re so weak in bargaining. We’re the weakest group of all the sports…The biggest players, the Peyton Mannings, they do their thing. You don’t see Peyton Manning coming out and say- ing, This, this, that, that."

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated; Photo Illustration by SI Premedia

On why he dons a beard: “In the history of time, every wise man had a beard…Jesus had a beard. Moses had a beard. Abraham had a beard. Malcolm X had a beard. It’s a wisdom thing.”

Rod Mar for Sports Illustrated; Photo Illustration by SI Premedia

On gun rights: “ Getting a gun should be harder than getting a mortgage. When people have guns, they tend to use them."