Michael Bennett Reportedly Fined for Striking Alex Smith in Head, Neck Area

Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett has reportedly been fined for a hit against Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith in an August 21 preseason matchup.

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport (via Around the NFL on Twitter), Bennett will be docked $17,363 for hitting Smith "in the head and neck area."

The play for which Bennett was fined happened on Kansas City's first offensive snap of the game, as Bennett came in high on Smith and knocked him to the ground. Officials flagged the 29-year-old for roughing the passer. 

Bennett has gotten attention this week for his comments during an interview with ESPN Radio 710 (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times) about how the NFL seems to go out of its way to protect quarterbacks in reference to Baltimore Ravens defender Terrell Suggs hitting Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford in the knees:

"

Everybody gets hit in their legs. Every play somebody tries to hit me in my legs. So what makes him different? What makes his life better than mine? I’ve got kids. I’ve got stuff I like to do on the weekend. But because he gets hit in his legs, he gets a flag. He gets up with a sad face like the world just ended because he got hit. I mean, you got hit in an NFL game. Who cares? Get back up and be like, ‘Good job.'

"

There is some place to debate how the NFL protects quarterbacks, though Seattle head coach Pete Carroll told Condotta after last week's game that Bennett "got up in the guy's chin" and didn't argue the penalty call. 

The Seahawks have to be hoping Bennett keeps that edge heading into the season while avoiding penalty flags. His sack total has decreased in each of the past two seasons—from a career-high nine in 2012 to seven last year.

Seattle's defense has been one of the most dominant units in the NFL without an elite pass-rusher, so a motivated Bennett could make the group even more lethal in 2015.