Sports

POSTED: Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008

Will Hill get lost in crowd at LB?

Now that the Seattle Seahawks have lost out on the chance to win their fifth consecutive division title, attention turns elsewhere for the final six games of the 2008 season.

For linebacker Leroy Hill, some of his concern is whether these are the last six games of his career in Seattle, starting with today’s contest against the Washington Redskins at Qwest Field.

On any other team, there would be little question that Hill, who has been the Seahawks’ best defensive player this season and who will become free agent soon, would be re-signed.

He is, after all, the team’s hardest hitter, which was apparent when he gave concussions to both Tampa Bay receiver Ike Hilliard and teammate Lofa Tatupu – on the same play.

And he not only leads the Seahawks in tackles with 81, but he is tied for 10th in the league in that category.

But the Seahawks and Hill find themselves in a unique situation because they already have Tatupu, a three-time Pro Bowler, and Julian Peterson, a four-time Pro Bowler, playing the position. And they are getting paid. So they migh not be able to afford to retain Hill, regardless of his contributions.

“That factor is obviously out there,” Hill said. “I know it. They know it. That is already on the table. So we will see. I don’t know how much money the franchise has. They might not even think about re-signing me.”

If the Seahawks’ recent history is any indication, it seems apparent that the Seahawks may allow Hill to go elsewhere. Generally, when general manager Tim Ruskell likes a player he has drafted, he rewards them with a long-term deal, as he did with Tatupu and Trufant last year.

Even though Hill has displayed that he is on the cusp of being a Pro Bowler, Ruskell apparently has not held any discussions with Hill’s agent, Todd France. Ruskell declined to comment for this story.

“We are letting them contact us,” Hill said. “We are not going to call and hassle them. They know what they have to do. Everybody knows I am a free agent at the end of the year. If they think enough of me, or if they have the money, then we will do it. But until then all we can do is wait until the end of the season and see how it plays out.”

What is likely making Ruskell reticent to commit to Hill is that he already has so much money devoted to the position.

Peterson’s contract is scheduled to escalate from $5 million this season to $6.5 million next season. And Tatupu will be paid $4.5 million next year, though his cap number will be $6.67 million because of a $10 million signing bonus he was paid when he signed his new contract in March. That is almost 10 percent of the salary cap being paid to two players on a defense that has been disappointing this season.

Both Hill and Peterson declined to speculate on what Ruskell’s lack of immediate attention to the matter might mean, though they admitted it was out of character for Ruskell not to reward his own players.

One possibility for Hill is that Ruskell puts the franchise tag on him, as he did with cornerback Trufant last offseason when negotiations failed to yield an agreement. But then, at least, Ruskell and Trufant’s agent were talking; Ruskell and France apparently are not.

If Hill were franchised, he would be paid the average salary of the top-five highest paid players at his position. Arizona gave Karlos Dansby the franchise tag this year and is paying him a little over $8 million.

Even in that case, the team would be committing $19 million to three linebackers.

It is possible that Ruskell feels that because Tatupu and Peterson are so talented, anybody coach-in-waiting Jim Mora throws in there as a third linebacker could be almost as productive as Hill. The team likes rookie David Hawthorne, and D.D. Lewis has performed well when he has played.

There also is the possibility that Ruskell remakes the defense and cuts ties with Peterson, who has $30.5 million remaining on his contract – though that would eliminate one of the team’s best pass rushers and most versatile and athletic players.

Peterson, who went through free agency in 2006, said he has told Hill to keep playing not to worry about the contract – that will take care of itself.

Still, Hill knows these could be the final six games with Seattle – something he doesn’t want but is willing to accept.

“That option is definitely there that I might not be here,” Hill said. “We all have grown close, especially the linebackers. I have a lot of friends in the city. It’ll be something different if I am not here. It’ll hurt. But at the same time it is a business and I have to feed my family.”

In a game-related matter, the Seahawks Saturday added center Chris Spencer to their injured list; he is questionable for today’s game with a sore back.

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SEAHAWKS GAMEDAY

WASHINGTON (6-4) AT SEATTLE (2-8)

Kickoff: 1:15 p.m., Qwest Field.

Television: Ch. 13. Radio: 710-AM, 97.3-FM.

The series: The Redskins lead the regular-season series, 9-4, and have won the past four games. But Seattle has won the past two playoff games, including a 35-14 decision last postseason in which Marcus Trufant and Jordan Babineaux returned interceptions for touchdowns.

What to watch: The game itself will be overshadowed by the ties that bind the teams: Jim Zorn, Shaun Alexander, Bill Lazor, Ryan Plackemeier, Mike Green, Shawn Springs, Stump Mitchell. But in reality, the Redskins need this win to stay in the hunt for a wild-card berth. Washington averaged at least 23 points in scoring four straight victories. But after last Sunday’s 14-10 loss to arch rival Dallas at home, Washington’s offense hasn’t reached 20 points in five straight games, three of which were losses. The Seahawks are attempting to snap a three-game losing streak. They hope that last week’s loss to Arizona was a tune-up for Matt Hasselbeck that will get him and the offense back in gear. The Seahawks will have a full complement of receivers and fullback Leonard Weaver back, though he is wearing a flak jacket over his sore ribs. It remains to be seen if Alexander will get the chance to play against the team for which he was the 2005 MVP; Alexander may be needed because of the health of Clinton Portis (knee), the league’s No. 2 rusher.

TNT pick: Redskins, 22-17.

Prime numbers

WASHINGTON

No.Name (position)Ht./Wt.Year

17Jason Campbell (QB)6-5, 231Fourth

Has thrown 10 TDs against only 3 INTs.

26Clinton Portis (RB)5-11, 221Seventh

Second in NFL in rushing with 1,063 yards.

47Chris Cooley (TE)6-3, 258Fifth

Has not missed a game in his five-year career.

59London Fletcher (LB) 5-10, 24511th

Veteran has 87 tackles and two forced fumbles.

SEATTLE

No.Name (position)Ht./Wt.Year

8Matt Hasselbeck (QB)6-4, 22510th

Threw three interceptions in his first game back from injury.

43Leonard Weaver (FB)6-0, 242Fourth

Productive when he has played but sore ribs have limited him.

84Bobby Engram (WR)5-10, 19213th

Leading receiver last season is due for a breakout game.

56Leroy Hill (LB)6-1, 238Fourth

Has played every game this season and leads the team in tackles.

Frank Hughes, The News Tribune