RENTON— Seattle Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill will miss the season opener after being suspended by the NFL on Friday for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Hill will miss the Seahawks season opener against San Francisco on Sept. 12. His suspension without pay also includes forfeiting an additional game check.
Hill can participate in all preseason practices and games. His suspension begins on Sept. 4 and will be eligible to return Sept. 13 following the Seahawks’ opener against San Francisco.
The suspension stems from Hill’s arrested in January 2009 in Georgia for misdemeanor marijuana possession. He received 12 months probation through a plea agreement that was settled earlier this spring.
Hill is still facing possible prosecution for his arrest in the Seattle suburb of Issaquah in April for investigation of domestic violence. Now entering his sixth NFL season, Hill has pleaded not guilty and has a July 23 jury call in the case with the prosecutor likely to ask for a trial date.
Since being drafted by the Seahawks in 2005, Hill has started 61 of his 67 career games. His best year came in 2006 when Hill had 92 tackles. Last year, he was limited to just 11 games and 46 tackles due to a torn groin.
Hill signed a six-year extension with Seattle before the start of the 2009 season.
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