Our friends at Pewter Report have the details on running back Michael Bennett’s new deal with the Bucs.

It’s a three-year contract with a $750,000 signing bonus and a $750,000 base salary in 2008.  Next year, the salary moves to $1 million.  In 2010, he’ll make $1.25 million.  If, that is, he’s still on the team.

In our view, why would Bennett accept such a small-potatoes (relatively speaking) deal in lieu of hitting the market?  Even if the Bucs told him that the offer would be yanked if he didn’t take it before the start of free agency, surely there’s another team that would have considered paying out $1.5 million in 2008 for the services of a one-time first-rounder.