Michael Bennett, Bradley Sowell involved in latest Seahawks practice scuffle

Cliff Avril leads an agitated Michael Bennett (72) away from a scuffle he got into during day five of the Seahawks mini camp, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Cliff Avril leads an agitated Michael Bennett (72) away from a scuffle he got into during day five of the Seahawks mini camp, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 96 Caption Close Michael Bennett, Bradley Sowell involved in latest Seahawks practice scuffle 1 / 96 Back to Gallery

RENTON -- The temperatures at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center practice fields were about 30 degrees cooler on Sunday than they would have been on Saturday, but that didn't prevent things from getting heated.

Defensive end Michael Bennett was involved in yet another altercation with a teammate on the offensive line on Sunday and ended practice on the sidelines once again after a lengthy dust-up.

Tackle Bradley Sowell drew Bennett's ire after Sowell knocked defensive lineman Josh Shirley to the ground during 1-on-1 pass protection drills. Bennett and Sowell tangled on the very next rep, turing the drill into a melee that spilled out onto other areas of practice.

Bennett and Sowell were both eventually restrained by teammates, and both did not participate in the rest of team drills.

"One of the other young guys got knocked around. He was standing up for him," head coach Pete Carroll said of Bennett after practice. "He's got a lot of pride and he's an incredible competitor, but he's got to make sure that he stays poised so he doesn't get himself in trouble. We had a good illustration of that today."

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Bennett previously mixed things up with rookie guard Germain Ifedi on a couple of occasions earlier this month at training camp. And while the fights may have initially been viewed as a positive sign that players were taking practice seriously, it seems the Seahawks coaching staff would like to see the combatants exhibit more control.

"There's parts of it that are good, but ultimately you don't want either one of them fighting or doing that," offensive line/assistant head coach Tom Cable said. "They've got to learn how to manage that because this stuff's going to happen in a game. And if you do it in a game, you get thrown out and they're going to take your money. So a good less for both (Sowell) and Mike (Bennett). Both guys were wrong, and they've got to learn to do right, and they'll do that."

Carroll acknowledged that some of Bennett's aggression might stem from inaction. The 2015 Pro Bowler missed all of the voluntary portion of Seattle's offseason and has barely played in the preseason while younger players get a chance to show their mettle.

Time spent on the sidelines coupled with Bennett's well known dissatisfaction with his contract and the pressure of Super Bowl aspirations, and perhaps it's a recipe for the kind of extracurricular activity that's been all too common this month.

"It's a lot riding on this season for our football team, and we have to deal with that," Carroll said. "With really high expectations, that can heighten the passion and the intensity and all of that. That's kind of something we're kind of used to out here."

An injection of toughness on the line from players like the fiery Ifedi and Sowell -- along with no-nonsense incumbents like left guard Mark Glowinski and center Justin Britt -- might also be pressing Bennett's buttons.

"I think everything about everything is more intense than it's been," Carroll. "It just seems like the focus has been there to push, to get prepared for the season. I can't say that we don't like it, we just have to manage it well and perform well."

After tempers were allowed to cool down, Bennett and Sowell walked off the practice fields together, which Carroll took as a good sign.

"I can't give you a better illustration. You just saw it," Carroll said. "We're very connected, and there's a respect that is here about competing and battling. You're working to take it as far as you can and still respect the people across from you. Sometimes that line gets crossed a little bit. Very competitive world we're in and very competitive game we play. These guys care with all their heart. We have to learn how to deal with that and manage that well."

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