Patriots reportedly trade Michael Bennett to Cowboys

By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com

The Patriots and Michael Bennett are officially parting ways, as the team is trading the veteran defensive end to the Dallas Cowboys for a seventh-round pick that could become a sixth-round pick in 2021, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Bennett's fit in New England has been an odd one from the start, really, as Bennett never seemed to log starter-level snaps on a defense that's just straight-up terrorized the opposition through the first seven weeks of the 2019 season. And Bennett voiced frustrations with that lack of playing time to the Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard following New England's Thursday Night Football victory over the New York Giants in Week 6.

Talking to the media about his issues seemed to be the least of Bennett's trouble with the Patriots, though, as the team suspended Bennett for their Week 7 primetime game against the Jets after a reported argument with defensive line coach Bret Bielema. Bennett called it a "philosophical disagreement."

It was the last thing Bennett needed, but the 33-year-old Bennett was back at practice on Wednesday, and neither party seemed to have any residual issues or bad blood with the one-game ban.

"I didn't take away nothing [from my suspension]," Bennett said Wednesday. "I got suspended and I lost money. What am I supposed to take away from that? I mean there's no love lost, that's just how it is."

"We’re onto this week," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said when asked if the sides had moved on from the suspension. "We’ve moved past a lot of things this year. We’re onto the Browns."

The move to Dallas gives Bennett a fresh start, and prevents Bennett from joining a potential AFC playoff opponent had the Patriots simply decided to cut their losses and outright release the three-time Pro Bowler.

Bennett's New England run comes to an end with just five tackles and two and a half sacks in six games with the Patriots.