Hawks, Hill reach long-term deal

RENTON — Seahawks president Tim Ruskell took a risk last weekend, removing the franchise tag on linebacker Leroy Hill not long after the team selected linebacker Aaron Curry with the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft.

On Thursday, Ruskell’s gamble paid off when Hill and the Seahawks agreed to a long-term contract. According to the Associated Press, the deal is for six years and up to $38 million, including $15.5 million in guaranteed money.

Ruskell said removing the franchise tag was done to help facilitate negotiations with Hill, which had stalled out. But many believed the move signaled the beginning of the end of the Leroy Hill era in Seattle. Instead, talks heated up this week, and the veteran defender is now expected to be on hand when the Seahawks minicamp starts today.

Had Hill signed the franchise tender, he would have made $8.3 million next season, but the Seahawks instead made him an unrestricted free agent after snagging Curry, the top linebacker in the draft. Ruskell admitted that drafting Curry gave the Seahawks flexibility and provided some insurance if Hill moved on. Still, he maintained that the team wanted to sign the four-year veteran to a long-term deal all along.

And on Thursday, the Seahawks got their man, and now have one of the top linebacking units in the league with Hill, Curry and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, a Pro Bowl player in each of his first three seasons.

Hill, a third-round draft pick in 2005, has started 50 of 56 career games, while totaling 321 tackles (237 solo), 13.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his career.

By removing the franchise tag, the Seahawks not only negotiated a contract with Hill, they also freed up enough money to sign a pair of veterans who likely will be starters in the fall: cornerback Ken Lucas and fullback Justin Griffith.

Seahawks coach Jim Mora said last weekend that the move shook Hill up — the franchise tag had kept him from pursuing free agent options, and then the offer was taken off the table after teams has signed free agents and gone through the draft — but in the end, it didn’t prevent the Seahawks from landing their man.

Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.