Seahawks' Bennett lauds 'cerebral' Rodgers
GREEN BAY – Even with a sore hamstring limiting Aaron Rodgers’ mobility, the Green Bay Packers quarterback continued his string of solid play last week against the Houston Texans.
It didn’t surprise Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett. Asked Wednesday whether Rodgers’ diminished running could help Seattle’s defense, Bennett said he didn’t think it would make much difference.
“I feel like there’s two types of level of football players,” Bennett said. “There’s a level of football players that can only play when they have that athleticism, and there’s the ones that can play with athleticism and they’re very cerebral. I think Aaron is very cerebral at this stage of his career. He doesn’t need to run.
“He just needs to get the ball where it’s supposed to go.”
Rodgers was able to do that Sunday. He finished with a 108.9 passer rating, his third straight game hitting the 100 mark. It was the first time Rodgers has had a 100 rating three straight games since the first three games of 2015.
Asked why Rodgers has improved in recent weeks, Bennett first pointed to the Packers' receivers.
“I just think guys are catching the ball more,” Rodgers said. “I just think guys are catching the passes that he’s throwing. That’s really what it comes down to.”
Bennett also noticed on difference in the quarterback from earlier this season.
“He’s not keeping the ball,” Bennett said, referencing the Packers' quick, short passing game. “I feel like the first couple of games, he was trying to make big, big plays and big, big plays, and then he just got back to doing what Aaron Rodgers does, and that’s distributing the ball to all his players and getting it done.”
Around the league, Bennett is known as one of the most outspoken players. Compliments don’t come easy. He has called Jay Cutler the worst quarterback in the NFL, and criticized several other quarterbacks.
He had nothing but good things to say about Rodgers.
“He’s probably the greatest of this time, period,” Bennett said.
rwood@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ByRyanWood