Leroy Hill now a free agent
by Wayward Llama on Apr 25, 2009 9:14 PM PDT
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Via Seahawkaddicts:
According the NFLN, and Mike Lombardi, the Seahawks have removed the franchise tag from linebacker Leroy Hill.
He is now a free agent and free to shop his services to anyone he wants. This frees up 8 million in salary cap space for the Hawks.
They are obviously disappointed that Hill was arrested and then chose not to show up for Jim Mora's first camp. Jim Mora publicly said otherwise, but how could that move have been well received. There are other linebackers available that can be signed. Plus the team now has Aaron Curry, who will be making some serious cake. This is a spat that has been brewing for a while. Negotiations stalled last offseason when Leroy hired Todd France, an agent who has always gotten huge dollars for his guys, see Nate Clements. They didn't appear to be sincere about wanting to stay in Seattle long term, and thus this is the corresponding move.
http://www.seahawkaddicts.com/2009/04/hawks-remove-tag-from-leroy-hill.html
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Ruskell said they are seeking to sign him long term. Not sure what point there is throwing out a smoke screen so it seems like Leroy is asking for to much? I could see 4-5 million a year but if he wants 7 or something ridiculous adios.
John contacted Mike Sando (original post in the podcast thread)
who had this to say:
Lombardi supposedly brought it up as an option. It is an option. Probably more talk at this point. If it helps them get a deal, it could come into play.
This is a nightmare.
Gain one player at the expense of two that was once our strongest unit. Jesus Christ, what a mess.
"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."
Is there a penalty box on FG
Yesterday's Pants
A blog-thingy about the Mariners and stuff.
by BrettJMiller on Apr 25, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions
No.
At least try to refute it instead of making snide comments.
"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."
by Fearless Frog on Apr 26, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions
That piece from Lombardi has played
a few times now on NFL network although I cannot find a link on any official site other than on blogs talking about it the NFL network piece Lombardi states that it was removed " today " but I am still not convinced it’s really happened or he was just trying to break something like Sando is saying on his blog.
by A'Seahawks_Warriors on Apr 25, 2009 10:27 PM PDT reply actions
Assuming this is accurate, and the tag has been removed
and someone else signs him to a $36Million deal, similar to what Seattle offered, and he chooses to move on to greener pastures, I presume we’d be in line for a compensatory pick next year, probably a 3rd or 4th rounder.
That probably is true Diehard
I just rather see us keep the ball in our court and not send him to a team that can hurt is like the 49ers and get what we feel is fair value those comp picks aren’t always what we plan them to be.
by A'Seahawks_Warriors on Apr 25, 2009 10:32 PM PDT reply actions
Good grief... it's electric out there with the Hill rumors!
I think everyone should just breathe easy until the particulars of this situation “come out in the wash.” Supposedly, Hill has recently nabbed a ’tough cookie" agent, and this could all simply be (even) more leveraging / posturing from the ’Hawks (or not.)
And, talk about being bi-polor, people… (no one on this blog, mind you.. in particular, i’m speaking of the Seattle PI ‘Hawks Blog) but, one minute it seems 90% of Seahawk fans wanted to have Tim Ruskell’s baby after taking Curry at 4th overall. I mean, not ten bloody minutes ago men from all over the tri-state area were lining up in droves outside of back-alley Capitol Hill “Dr.s offices” for immediate, no-questions-asked sex changes, and “i [heart] Timmy” tattoos! …And the very second the rumors start to fly about Hill, everyone wants the man’s severed head on a burning pike in Pioneer Square. Yesterday, preferably, Good Sir!
[I don’t think Ruskell’s a particularly bad GM. Especially comparatively speaking.]
I say if Hill wants to walk, it doesn’t have a bloody thing to do with Tim Ruskell. This move, if it actually even remotely resembles the current rumors floating about reflects poorly on Hill, not Ruskell. If Hill wants to pout, skip camp, and shop himself around a league saturated with LBs because the ‘Hawks won’t dump 40 mil. on his doped-up butt, i say, “Good riddance!! Way to be a team player, Smokey! You could have been a piece of perhaps one of the greatest LB trios the NFL’s ever seen (and for decent money, too.”)
Hill is a MEAN tackler. I like the guy. I even like the guy a lot. But, seriously, how much money can Seattle tie up in it’s LB corps with so many obvious other needs to address?
Hill is objectively expendable. It’s true, kids. As much as i like the guy, it’s true.
[aside from all that drivel… “What a dang fine day to be a Seahawks fan!!” I totally feel as if we may still get caught by someone for the all the steeling we did earlier today, though… like i should go hide the Aaron Curry, Max Unger, and the extra 1st Rounder under my bed, or something.]
by Grimm Blackwood on Apr 25, 2009 10:33 PM PDT reply actions
This is pretty much the reason I didn't want Curry
That said, now that Curry is in the fold, removing the franchise tag is 100% the right move, assuming that Ruskell has already tried to trade but didn’t find anything fruitful. Either we sign Hill long term on a more reasonable deal or he’s gone and the team fills his spot with a more appropriately paid weakside LB. I’m fine with either scenario.
I've yet to find anyone other than Lombardi say that the franchise tag has been removed.
If this had happened Sando, O’Neil, and Williams would have been all over it. Sounds like he may have misspoke.
Derrick Brooks
Would he sign for a low amount and be able to play at a level better then D.D. Lewis at 35?
I don't think it's a bad thing
If anything, at this point we have more leverage than Hill’s agent. We’ve got the undisputed LB of the future and now Leroy’s $36 million deal seems pretty high. Without the franchise tag the pressure is on for Hill’s agent to find the right price with our FO, because not a lot of teams would be willing to take on his proposed monster salary.
Good move.
Or, Hill can say "Fuck you" to our FO and sign somewhere for money where they'll use him effectively.
"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."
by Fearless Frog on Apr 26, 2009 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions
That's actually what I'm worried about.
Weez the juice!!
by Carl Shinyama on Apr 26, 2009 6:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Would you have rather kept an expensive soon-to-be 31-year old OLB
or an expensive 26-year old OLB who can do pretty all of the same things as the 31-year old, blitzing wise?
Weez the juice!!
by Carl Shinyama on Apr 26, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I like Hill
Love his ferociousness tackling the ball carrier, love his blitzing ability, love his weed smoking, but I just am not convinced that an elite LB corps is essential to a great defense.
I was thinking of modern day great LB’s and how most have ascended to greatness with good D-line play. Ray Lewis was great with Sam Adams and Siragusa. Then when they left he had some down years until the Ravens drafted Haloti Ngata.
Brian Urlacher was long considered good but took the step towards elite once Tommy Harris joined the fray.
Mike Singletary in his prime was helped by a great d-line.
Green Bay’s line backers were playing outstanding in 2007 when that line was damn good. But in 2008 the line fell apart and the backers became human again.
Look at the Eagles, for many years they played without any real star linebackers and yet that defense continued to perform because of the pressure Jim Johnson brought from all over.
Right now the bears are in a similar situation with Urlacher wanting a raise and Briggs commanding so much. So we see what can happen if you overpay to keep the LB’s together.
I think we’ll be just fine without Hill and Curry will be everything he’s advertised and more
"I call the big one Bitey."-Homer J. Simpson
by Willie Mays Haze on Apr 26, 2009 8:06 PM PDT reply actions
I think we’ll be just fine without Hill
I don’t want fine. I want Hill and what he brings to our team. He’s a stud. I’ve been waiting forever to see him used as a blitzer correctly again. He could have a massive impact with pressure along with his regular play-disruptions.
Get him signed.
I'd like him signed too
But at what cost? And if we are moving towards a more Tampa two style of defense do his skills match up for our scheme?
Also, going back to the cost, how much money do The Seahawks need to have tied up in a position whose production relies heavily on the line? It’s not smart to tie up a ton of cap room in a largely replaceable position.
"I call the big one Bitey."-Homer J. Simpson
by Willie Mays Haze on Apr 26, 2009 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions
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