Questionable future

Now that the Seattle Seahawks have lost out on the chance to win their fifth consecutive division title, attention turns elsewhere for the final six games of the 2008 season.

For linebacker Leroy Hill, some of his concern is whether these are the last six games of his career in Seattle, starting with today’s contest against the Washington Redskins at Qwest Field.

On any other team, there would be little question that Hill, who has been the Seahawks’ best defensive player this season and who becomes a free agent at the end of the season, would be re-signed.

He is, after all, the team’s hardest hitter, which was apparent when he gave concussions to both Tampa Bay receiver Ike Hilliard and teammate Lofa Tatupu – on the same play.

And he not only leads the Seahawks in tackles with 81, but he is tied for 10th in the league in that category – as a weakside linebacker.

But the Seahawks and Hill find themselves in a unique situation because they already have Tatupu, a three-time Pro Bowler, and Julian Peterson, a four-time Pro Bowler, playing the position. And they are getting paid. Which means they may not be able to afford to retain Hill, regardless of his contributions.

“That factor is obviously out there,” Hill said. “I know it. They know it. That is already on the table. So we will see. I don’t know how much money the franchise has. They might not even think about re-signing me.”

If the Seahawks’ recent history is any indication, it seems apparent that the Seahawks may allow Hill to go elsewhere. Generally, when general manager Tim Ruskell likes a player he has drafted, he rewards them with a long-term deal, as he did with Tatupu and Marcus Trufant last year.

Even though Hill has displayed that he is on the cusp of being a Pro Bowler, Ruskell apparently has not held any discussions with Hill’s agent, Todd France. Ruskell declined to comment for this story.

“We are letting them contact us,” Hill said. “We are not going to call and hassle them. They know what they have to do. Everybody knows I am a free agent at the end of the year. If they think enough of me, or if they have the money, then we will do it. But until then all we can do is wait until the end of the season and see how it plays out.”

What is likely making Ruskell reticent to commit to Hill is that he already has so much money devoted to the position.

Peterson’s contract is scheduled to escalate from $5 million this season to $6.5 million next season. And Tatupu will be paid $4.5 million next year, though his cap number will be $6.67 million because of a $10 million signing bonus he was paid when he signed his new contract in March. That is almost 10 percent of the salary cap being paid to two players on a defense that has been disappointing this season.

Both Hill and Peterson declined to speculate on what Ruskell’s lack of immediate attention to the matter might mean, though they admitted it was out of character for Ruskell not to reward his own players.

One possibility for Hill is that Ruskell puts the franchise tag on him, as he did with cornerback Trufant last off-season when negotiations failed to yield an agreement. But then, at least, Ruskell and Trufant’s agent were talking; Ruskell and France apparently are not.

If Hill were franchised, he would be paid the average salary of the top-five highest paid players at his position. Arizona gave Karlos Dansby the franchise tag this year and is paying him a little over $8 million.

Still, that would not address the issue that $18 million would be committed to three linebackers.

It is possible that Ruskell feels that because Tatupu and Peterson are so talented, anybody coach-in-waiting Jim Mora throws in there as a third linebacker could be almost as productive as Hill. The team likes rookie David Hawthorne and D.D. Lewis has performed well when he has played.

There also is the possibility that Ruskell remakes the defense and cuts ties with Peterson, who has $30.5 million remaining on his contract – though that would eliminate one of the team’s best pass rushers and most versatile and athletic players.

Peterson, who went through free agency in 2006, said he has told Hill to keep playing the way he has been and not to worry about the contract – it will take care of itself.

Still, Hill knows these could potentially be the final six games of his career in Seattle – something he doesn’t want but is willing to accept.

“That option is definitely there that I might not be here,” Hill said. “We all have grown close, especially the linebackers. I have a lot of friends in the city. It’ll be something different if I am not here. It’ll hurt. But at the same time it is a business and I have to feed my family.”

In a game-related matter, the Seahawks added center Chris Spencer to their injured list Saturday; he is questionable for today’s game with a sore back.