At first glance, Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill’s decision to take a massive pay cut this season looks like another rough moment in a terrible offseason.
That may be true, but it could be the smartest thing Hill has done in a while. Now it looks like he’ll be paid well to remain on the team this season.
ESPN’s Mike Sando broke the news that Hill will take a salary reduction from $6 million to $2.125 million in 2010; the new deal will also wipe out the remaining years of Hill’s contract. Hill’s salary was guaranteed, but clearly Hill and his agent were worried the Seahawks could have avoided paying the money because of Hill’s off-field problems.
Hill is suspended for the first game of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and a domestic violence case he was involved in is under review according to the league’s personal conduct policy.
We figured Hill was going to get cut, but this compromise should keep him in Seattle at a reduced rate and avoid any complicated legal wrangling. He could play his way into a decent free agent contract elsewhere when and if he gets back on the field.
Whenever Hill is eligible to play, he figures to be a backup behind David Hawthorne.