RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks didn’t wait long to start spending the $8.3 million freed up by de-franchising linebacker Leroy Hill over the weekend.
On Monday, the Seahawks announced two signings that could shore up big needs on the team. Cornerback Ken Lucas, who started his NFL career in Seattle but has spent the past four seasons with the Carolina Panthers, was signed along with veteran fullback Justin Griffith.
Lucas adds size to a secondary that often got out-muscled by bigger receivers like Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald. The 6-foot, 205-pound Lucas is likely to be part of a nickel package that also includes cornerbacks Marcus Trufant and Josh Wilson.
Griffith, who played under current Seahawks head coach Jim Mora and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp in Atlanta, is the odds-on favorite to start at fullback. Second-year player Owen Schmitt is currently No. 1 on the depth chart after Leonard Weaver signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent.
The Seahawks originally offered Hill a franchise tag that would pay him $8.3 million in 2009, but the veteran linebacker did not sign the tender, which was then revoked over the weekend. While Seattle could still try to sign Hill, his 2009 salary would be well below that level, thereby opening up the possibility of adding some veterans at other positions.
Seahawks president Tim Ruskell said again Monday that the removal of Hill’s franchise tag doesn’t indicate a desire to part ways with Hill. Asked if the organization still want to re-sign hill, Ruskell answered: “Yes it does. Absolutely.”
And when asked if there was anything new in those negotiations, he replied, “Just conversations. We continue to go forward.”
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