NFL Trade Talk: Garrett says Cowboys got 'endorsement' on Bennett from Patriots Belichick
FRISCO - Amid assorted Tuesday questions here at The Star about Michael Bennett's mindset and his political views and his readiness to come to Dallas, I asked Cowboys coach Jason Garrett a simple question: In researching the idea of a trade with the Patriots, did Garrett seek an opinion of Bennett from coach Bill Belichick? And did Belichick endorse Bennett as a player?
"He absolutely did,'' Garrett told me.
Does this clear up every potential issue that might involves the controversial three-time Pro Bowl defensive end? Not really. It's perfectly natural for the media to be asking questions about the "homework'' I'm told Dallas did prior to the deadline deal for Bennett, who turns 34 next month and was a virtually give-away to the Cowboys, New England getting a late-round pick for him. It's perfectly natural to study Bennett's national anthem behavior during his NFL career, too; it seems in New England he avoided the issue by remaining in the locker room during the pregame ceremony. Garrett indicated that the Cowboys have discussed with Bennett their policy, which is about toe-the-line respect during the anthem.
It's even worth asking if brother Martellus Bennett's conflict in the tight ends room with Jason Witten is a "Bennett family issue'' here; Garrett suggests that's been addressed as well.
What matters most, Dallas hopes?
"He loves football,'' a source told me on Thursday evening, shortly after Dallas agreed to give New England a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick in exchange for Bennett, "and he has opinions. He has a mind of his own and he speaks that mind.''
Added owner Jerry Jones the day after while speaking on 105.3 The Fan: "There’s nothing negative about him as an individual. … He’s got 'war daddy' in him when he gets on the field. ... I like how his personality is. He’s an extrovert relative to his thoughts on different positions. I know that he’ll fit us great. He’ll fit anything that I’m about great, or anything we’re about as a team.”
