After sacking Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sunday, Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett got up and did a hula dance. And in case that was too subtle, Bennett wants to make it perfectly clear: That was his way of hinting that people should vote to send him to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.
“I was definitely being direct, trying to send a message, with that dance, because I know that, statistically at least, I’m right there with any other defensive end,” Bennett told the Tampa Tribune.
Bennett is currently tied for 12th in the NFL in sacks, with nine. But what matters from a Pro Bowl perspective is where he ranks among NFC defensive ends, and on that score he’s tied for fourth: Atlanta’s John Abraham (10), Detroit’s Cliff Avril (9.5) and St. Louis’s Robert Quinn (9.5) are the only defensive ends ahead of him, while Minnesota’s Jared Allen, Seattle’s Chris Clemons and Carolina’s Greg Hardy are tied with him.
“I’ve had a real good year, and I think I should be at the top with the rest of the guys,” Bennett said.
Unfortunately for Bennett, the fans voting for the Pro Bowl haven’t agreed with him: He’s way behind Allen, the leader among NFC defensive ends, in fan voting. So Bennett will have to hope he makes up ground when opposing players and coaches cast their Pro Bowl votes.
And opposing players and coaches probably won’t be impressed with his hula dance.