RENTON — The Seahawks have had talks with linebacker Lofa Tatupu about restructuring his contract, which currently runs through the 2015 season.
That could mean a pay cut for the middle linebacker and captain of the Seahawks’ defense should he agree to what the team is offering. Alternately, it could mean the end of his time in Seattle. Generally a team doesn’t get into talks about restructuring a player’s contract unless it is prepared to cut that player if he says no.
Tatupu’s current contract, which he signed in 2008 after making the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, pays him $4.35 million this season. Tatupu was at Saturday morning’s practice, but was not present during the afternoon’s walkthrough.
Tatupu started all 16 games last season, but by the end of the season he was very limited in practice because of knee problems that led to offseason surgery. In 2009, Tatupu played in just five games after tearing a pectoral muscle.
If Tatupu were to be cut, the Seahawks would have a viable replacement in David Hawthorne, who started in place of Tatupu at middle linebacker in 2009 and led the team in tackles. Last season, Hawthorne started at weakside linebacker, recording 106 tackles.
Coutu is back
Brandon Coutu has been signed to compete for the kicking job left vacant when Olindo Mare signed with Carolina. If that name sounds familiar, it is because Coutu was drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round in 2008. Mare beat Coutu out for the job, but the Seahawks kept Coutu on the 53-man roster all season. When Mare beat Coutu for the job again in 2009, he was released, and he has not played for another team since. The only other kicker on Seattle’s roster is Wes Byrum, an undrafted rookie out of Auburn. The Seahawks also made official the re-signing of defensive tackle Junior Siavii.
D-line shuffle
Carroll said the defensive line will take a different look when this season gets going. Brandon Mebane, who re-signed Friday, will move from his old position of three-technique tackle to nose tackle, and newly signed Alan Branch will play Mebane’s old position. Colin Cole, who started as the nose tackle last year, is recovering from ankle surgery and Carroll said he is still a ways from returning.
Fans shut out
The Seahawks had to cancel the afternoon practice, which was scheduled to be open to fans, and replace it with a walkthrough. The change was the result of rule under the new CBA which limit the workload on players in training camp. The team issued a statement apologizing to fans who had registered for the practice.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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