The Buccaneers announced today that restricted free agent defensive end Michael Bennett has signed his first-round tender offer. The tender will pay Bennett $2.7 million for the upcoming 2012 season, contingent on no other team signing Bennett. If that highly unlikely scenario were to take place, the Buccaneers would receive the signing team’s first round draft pick.

Bennett talked to Pewtereport.com just after signing his tender.

“It is a real honor to play for the Buccaneers,” Bennett said. “I love the organization and (general manager) Mark Dominik has always had my back. For them to think this highly of me, I feel honored.”

Bennett is ready for the season to get underway and erase the memories of the disappointing 2011 season.

“Everyone is excited to go out there and prove we were better than last year,” Bennett said. “Not making any excuses, but it was tough with the young team we had especially with no offseason together. Everyone will have another year under our belt and we will have a better understanding of what we need to do to succeed. Some guys worked out on their own but I think some guys, especially the first and second year guys, need that structure of an offseason.”

Bennett saw his most action this past season with the Buccaneers, playing in 14 games with 10 starts, as he recorded a team-leading nine tackles for loss to go with 47 tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and four sacks, the second-most on the team.

Bennett has played in three seasons with Tampa Bay after being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. In his career, he has started 12 of the 34 games he has played, recording 73 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, 21 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Bennett originally entered the NFL with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2009.