by: Michael Steffes
Just a side note, Liz Mullen of The Sports Business Journal is reporting that Leroy Hill has hired Todd France to represent him. This is a telling move. It would appear that Hill will be looking to become a free agent after the season.
Todd France took over representation for Nate Clements the year before he was a free agent. that worked out pretty well for Nate. He was also the agent who got Takeo Spikes a big deal several years ago, which is how he kind of made his name.
How do I know so much about Todd France? Well, he, along with Tim Ruskell, and several of the Seahawks drafted in 2005, are all main characters in the book, "The Draft", by Pete Williams. Something I would recommend you check out if you want to get inside the psyche of all the parties involved in an NFL Draft. END
Michael, Do you have any other book recommendations? I really want a X and Os book that's a good read. I loved "Blindside" which I know you've been reading as well. I'll pick up "The Draft".
ReplyDelete-Christopher, DC
Hey Christopher, DC. I really enjoyed John Madden's book "One Knee Equals Two Feet (and Everything Else You Wanted To Know About Football)".
ReplyDeleteHe is brilliant, and thinks much like T Ruskell in some aspects. He believes that the o-line is the most important piece of a franchise team--much like Ruskell and "drafting a lineman every year" ideology. Scratch out the Hutch. ordeal, and this is true.
It is just a book that really simplifies all the details of how to watch football and what it takes to be a GM, coach, or player.
You should check it out.
Sounds like a franchise tag candidate. If Leroy is heading down this road, it will probably get ugly. Fortunately Hill may be the most replaceable of the LB group.
ReplyDeleteMichael, who are the top candidates for next year's franchise tag (assuming we will use one)?
-PaulySINM
what other vet olb might hit the FA market next year? we may have a bit of cap room to spend.
ReplyDeleteIt may be just a touch to early to worry about all of that....
ReplyDeleteLets see if we draft a linebacker first, and then maybe how he plays.
It is not out of the question that they can't get long term deal done too. If the money is right, I am sure the agent would rather get his commission now, as opposed to this time next year!
Obviously, Hill deserves to get paid as one of the top linebackers in the league...Even though he is a little overshadowed by Lofa and Julian, the stats are still clear as day. In my opinion, there isn't a bett LB out there at stopping the run and tackling in the open-field.
ReplyDeleteHere's my question to Mr. Hill though...Where is he going to find a better D and/or organization to play for? Seattle truly loves the guy, and would hate to see him go. He is a highly valued player and is key in the success of this defense.
Hopefully, we can get something done in the long-term that makes sense.
I can't see us replacing Hill very easily, but if it was so easy for Ruskell to find both Tatupu and Hill in the same draft without using a 1rst round, it may be Ruskell's strength.
ReplyDeleteRuskell also said that he likes wrapping up his good draft picks long-term. The Hawks will really push to keep him, and if we can't get him a long-term teal, then I would be surprised not to see the franchise tag in view.
It seems like we are spending a lot on big contracts for the defense. And I can't think of a better place to spend it than kerney, lofa, trufant, peterson, etc.
ReplyDeleteBut how many of these big contracts can we sign? Is there room there for Hill also?
Personally I would love to somehow see Deon Branch and Shaun Alexander money moved to Leroy Hill long term contract money as both are more replaceable than Hill. Of course that is a gross oversimplification but we aren't getting value for alexander and branch whereas we are with Hill (although he gets banged up some).
-PaulySINM
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis is a good read...
ReplyDeleteHill is a true beast and losing him would be a very very hard hit to our defense. he deserves money and a home in seattle.
ReplyDeleteHill is considered a great OLB. I think Ruskell thinks he his as well, but Ruskell knows that hill is overshadowed by Tatupu and Peterson which gives Ruskell the upper hand in negotiations. Hill knows Ruskell is aware of this and is doing everything he can now to solidify a big paycheck next year.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't do something now to lock him down it could become more of a dire situation than Tatupu's or Trufant's situation seemed to be a little less than a month ago.
Hey Steffes, Google Books has a preview of "The Draft". You can't read the whole thing, but you can link to a lot of pages and people can find places to buy it.
ReplyDeletehttp://books.google.com/books?id=l0YN9Q33EBAC
We have to franchise this guy if we don't sign him long term. Those of you who think he is so easy to replace look at the playoff stats every year he has been here. 60+ tackles. He lead the entire team, not Lofa, not JP. Check the stats people, this is a prime time player who has always shown up. I'm sorry I don't think JP or Lofa has. He is our best tackler, can cover, and we know he can rush the passer given the chance (7 sacks rookie year). Hill is the most underrated LB out there. Defense wins championships, we all know it. It was proven again in the superbowl. Sign him long term or franchise him. Anyone see the hit he put on Jamal Lewis in Cleveland last year? We should pay him whatever he wants on that hit alone! By the way first time blogger had to join in this is a great site! Keep up the good work Michael.
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to lose Hill.
ReplyDeleteThat said, completely off topic how outlandish would it be for us to take a Tackle in the first round and move Lock to RG when the draft pick was ready for some time at RT?
Tackle is pretty deep in this draft and we could use a replacement for big Walt a couple years down the road.
SDHawksFan
It is possible that Walt's shoulders may bring on retirement sooner than we think (1-2 years) I sure hope not!
ReplyDeleteSDHawksFan,
ReplyDeleteI think that if the best player available is a Tackle when we pick at #25, we *might* take one. But I think the Hawks would prefer to pick a Tackle later in the draft, and here's why:
1) It is a deep class, so good Tackles are likely to slip.
2) The coaching staff has already laid to rest the idea of Locklear playing Guard. He is not a good fit there, and they want him at Tackle. Not only that, but they paid him like a starting Tackle, not like a project Guard.
3) Generally you want a 1st round pick to contribute right away, or at least within the first two years. You pay them more than later picks, and you expect more. It is a bad investment to pick a 1st rounder who won't play for a while. If the Hawks pick a Tackle, he will not play for a while. We already have two starters at Tackle for at least the next two years. They will not be replaced, and if they were, our investment in them would be a waste as well. Unless a Tackle of really great value falls to us at #25 and we just can't pass him by, I doubt the Seahawks would take a Tackle.
Many other positions (DE, DT, RB, TE, maybe even G) are much more likely to contribute this year than a Tackle. A guard is pretty much the only position on the o-line that has a chance to even get on the field, aside from replacing an injured starter. Other positions, like DE, DT, RB, TE, are all going to contribute right away, either in the defensive line rotation, on special teams or at an offensive skill position. Walt and Lock will be in there at Tackle on every down.
All that said, I do think that if there is a Tackle on the board who is aboslutely the best player available, the Hawks could take him and just deal with all the negatives in the hope that they get an awesome player out of it.
-Tom
Lets just invent a time machine and go into the future 10 years and then come back and tell Ruskell who to pick. I'm up for the road trip, anyone else?
ReplyDeletebobbyk
bobbyk,
ReplyDeleteI'm in.
-Tom
Maybe Hill wants to resign right away and is hiring this agent for the negotiations part? I really believe that if Ruskell was going to let Hill go he would not have let the back up LB's go this year. Hill will be resigned for sure. He will probably get the same contract as Tatupu or less if his agent has anything to say about it.
ReplyDeletehey, y'all, we need us some leroy hill. that dude brings it. it's a large part of how lofa's so good. they compliment each other, and don't forget, they seem pretty good buds as well, and enjoy playing together, from what i've observed. go...seahawks!
ReplyDeleteHey Mike,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of trading Hill for this year and next year picks? Sounds like he is going to play hardball and probably ask for more than we can give. Can we afford this? Just a what if...
Maybe he just needed an agent because he didn't have one. I can imagine its nice to have one to do all of the paperwork and legal reviews of the contract etc. It doesn't have to mean anything more than that :)
ReplyDelete~GnarlyHawk.
Ruskell found Tatupu and hill in the same draft, but that may never happen again. Just because those two came along, it sure doesnt mean that kind of talent is available every year, or that Ruskell will recognize it when it is there.
ReplyDeleteHill is in no way easily replaceable, and this years draft highlights why: there may not be a single linebacker taken in the first two rounds, due to a lack of talent.
Tatupu/Hill was perhaps the best 2nd-3rd round pick tandem in the history of the NFL. Those who think Ruskell can do it again at the drop of the hat need to look closer at our draft history. Ruskell is a fine judge of talent, but he doenst have a crystal ball.
-SlaveToTheBusinessman