RENTON, Wash. -- Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett knows the name to drop around town to get what he wants.
Bennett tried to make a reservation over the phone at an exclusive unnamed eatery Tuesday, thinking his status as a defensive star for the NFL's top team was good enough. After all, he returned a Drew Brees fumble 22 yards for a touchdown just one night earlier.
"But they told me they were all booked up," Bennett said in a 710 ESPN radio interview.
Undeterred, Bennett had an alternate plan of action.
"I called them back a few minutes later," he said. "I said, 'Hey, this is Russell Wilson. I'll be attending your restaurant today. Do you have any tables?'
"And she was like, 'Yes! We can make a table for you! You were 22-for-30 the other night, 130 quarterback rating!' She knew every stat."
Bennett changed his voice when he called the second time, although his Wilson impression on the radio didn't sound much like his teammate. Bennett raised his voice a little and tried to sound cerebral.
The ruse was going to be hard to pull off when he arrived at the restaurant, considering the fact Bennett looks nothing like Wilson, is six inches taller, 70 pounds heavier and has a beard.
"I got to the restaurant with my wife and kids," Bennett said. "I said, 'Oh, thank you. I'm Russell Wilson.' She was like, 'Good joke.' I said, 'Gotcha.' "
Bennett and his family still got the star treatment.
"She took me to the table and they had it roped off," Bennett said. "They had sparkling water and everything."