GREEN BAY, Wis. – It seemed normal enough for Michael Bennett to play in another season opener.

He spent the afternoon at Lambeau Field chasing Aaron Rodgers, a challenge that gives any defensive end worth his weight a jolt of adrenaline. With his parents in the stands, he looked across the line of scrimmage and saw his younger brother, Martellus, playing tight end for the other team.

In the locker room afterward, Seattle Seahawks teammates Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas made it a point on check on Bennett’s physical condition, given that he went down briefly during the 17-9 defeat, shaken up by a knee injury.

He insists he’s fine with that. It’s football. Those are the bumps and bruises that come with the game.

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Yet Bennett seemed relieved, too, for another reason. After making headlines last week with accusations of racial profiling and police misconduct – and drawing intense backlash from the Las Vegas Police Department – Bennett welcomed the grind of a real, full football game as a much-needed dose of normalcy.

“It’s good to clear your mind and just focus on the game, and playing as hard as you can,” Bennett told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s always hard when you’re in the spotlight, and people are asking about the story. But it’s just part of life. You still have to focus on your job.”

It was also normal that Bennett conducted a protest during the national anthem, sitting on the bench while teammate Justin Britt rested a hand on his shoulder. Bennett, who has been described as an activist in a football uniform, began his protest during the preseason after white supremacists rallied in Charlottesville, Va. On the other sideline Sunday, his brother raised his right arm in a black-gloved salute reminiscent of the 1968 Olympic protest.

Yet the day was overwhelmingly about football. Although the Seahawks lost, they had their chances largely because their potent defense kept Rodgers under wraps for a half. Bennett surely had something to do with that, as he notched 1 1/2 sacks and was credited with two quarterback hits to go with his three tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage. He had more impact that didn’t show up on the stat sheet as he repeatedly applied pressure that forced Rodgers out of the pocket.

Still, the controversy that surfaced last week, stemming from incident following the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight on Aug. 26, doesn’t promise to go away easily or any time soon. Bennett has said he is considering with a civil lawsuit against the Las Vegas Police Department.

In a heartfelt letter he released last week and in subsequent statements, Bennett maintained that a police officer put a gun to his head and threatened to blow his “(expletive) brains out” while using excessive force. He was handcuffed as he lay face-down on the street, ultimately released.

Although Bennett contends that he suffered emotional trauma from the episode, the police have essentially called him a liar. In addition to maintaining that Bennett wasn’t racially profiled, the police maintain that he raised suspicion for actions in a casino.

A partial video released by TMZ didn’t fully verify Bennett’s version, but a subsequent video appears to show an officer with a gun to Bennett’s head.

“That’s a true story,” Bennett said on Sunday. “Why would I lie about it?”

Of the response from the Las Vegas Police Department, which included a request to the NFL to investigate Bennett for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, he said, “That’s ridiculous.”

The NFL quickly dismissed the notion that it would investigate Bennett.

Meanwhile, there’s a football season to get on with for the Pro Bowl performer. Bennett’s closest teammate, defensive end Cliff Avril, said he sensed that it was business as usual for preparations heading into the season opener.

“Honestly, he was still himself,” Avril told USA TODAY Sports. “I was with him, so I understand how it affected him. But he did a good job as a professional, coming to work and just getting his job done. I know in the back of his mind, it still bothers him.”

Bennett was eager to see another video on Sunday – but this one had nothing to do with the controversial incident and everything to do with football.

The Seahawks lost cornerback Jeremy Lane for the bulk of the game after he was ejected in the first quarter for what referee John Parry described as “throwing a punch” against Packers receiver Davante Adams. It’s unclear whether Lane actually threw a punch or shoved Adams with his forearm.

“I want to see the video,” Bennett said. “I heard about it, but I didn’t think it was much.”

Follow Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.

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