In hindsight, Leroy Hill should have delayed his domestic violence case

Earlier this week, Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill willingly reduced a guaranteed 2010 base salary of $6 million to $2.125 million.

So why would Hill give up $3.875 million in guaranteed money?

When Hill signed his current deal in 2009, he already had been arrested for marijuana possession.  And so his agent wisely included language in the contract preserving the guaranteed nature of the $6 million base salary in 2010, regardless of the suspension Hill expected to receive.

While it was believed at one point that the Seahawks were keeping Hill away from offseason workouts because they planned to void the guarantee and cut him after he received his suspension for inevitably pleading guilty to marijuana possession, the reality was that the guarantee remained in effect.

But only as to the marijuana charge.

The game changed once Hill found himself on the wrong end of domestic violence charges.  And by resolving the case in a manner that triggered a review under the Personal Conduct Policy, Hill now faces another suspension.  This one undoubtedly would have voided the guaranteed nature of his salary.

As a result, the Seahawks acquired leverage, and they used it.

Hill wisely agreed to slash his pay, presumably after being told that he’d be cut if he doesn’t.  (Last night’s episode of Hard Knocks demonstrates the cold, cruel reality of such conversations within the context of the Jets’ power play against Kellen Clemens, a common move in which every team engages.)
 
So what could have been done differently?  Hill’s lawyer should have tried to find a way to defer the resolution of Hill’s case until after Week One of the regular season.  At that point, the money would have been guaranteed, either under the terms of Hills contract or via the termination pay provision of the CBA.

Regardless of whether Hill’s lawyer tried to tap the brakes from August 18 until September 12, Hill’s lawyer had 3.875 million reasons to succeed.