Bennett not bitter about Patriots stint with meeting on horizon

Michael Bennett said Wednesday there is no bad blood between him and the New England Patriots, who he'll face Sunday as a member of the Dallas Cowboys.

"It's never personal in the NFL," the defensive lineman said, according to ESPN's Chris Archer. "It's always business."

Bennett opened the season with the Patriots, who acquired him in an offseason deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. He lasted just eight weeks before being jettisoned to the Cowboys.

Prior to the trade, the Patriots suspended the 34-year-old for one game after he argued with position coach Bret Bielema about his usage.

Bennett insists he's moved on from the beef and had only positive things to say about the Patriots' coaching staff.

"I learned a lot of football in New England," Bennett said. "I think at the same time, as a player you go into the situation and you think you know football, then you meet somebody who's above you (like Bill Belichick) and knows everything about the game.

"For me, I learned a lot about football in that situation, learning how to execute at a high level, learning what it takes to develop players. I learned what it feels like to break down a game plan from a different perspective and I think it was good for me as a player. If I ever want to be a coach it would be a good situation to take into that."

Bennett has eight tackles and three sacks in three games with the Cowboys. He posted five tackles and 2.5 sacks over six appearances with the Patriots.