Hutchinson’s fate with arbiter

SEATTLE – The Seahawks’ hopes of keeping All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson will be decided by an arbitration process.

That will delay the Sunday deadline for the team to match a $49 million offer to Hutchinson by the Minnesota Vikings.

The NFL Players Association said Friday the league has filed a claim on behalf of the Seahawks contending a clause in the offer sheet Hutchinson signed with the Vikings last weekend circumvents the league’s labor contract. That would mean Seattle does not have to match that clause to keep Hutchinson, who is designated as their transition player.

The clause in question would guarantee Hutchinson the entire contract sum if he is not the team’s highest-paid offensive lineman.