UPDATE: According to Seahawks.com the team has agreed to a long-term deal with linebacker Leroy Hill.

Hill has collected 321 tackles, 13.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 56 career games. Seattle picked him as the 96th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.

John Clayton reported that the deal was for six years and worth $38 millon, $15.5 of which is guaranteed.

Clayton also added this note: “One of the interesting addendums to the contract, according to a source, is a provision that will allow Hill to keep the guarantees if he is suspended for an offseason incident in which he was found asleep in a car and marijuana was found in the car. Normally, the language of most contracts puts the guarantees at risk if there is a suspension or an off-field incident. Under Hill’s new six-year deal, his guarantee is protected.”

So it appears that the team and Hill made concessions to make the long-term deal happen. Hill, Lofa Tatupu and rookie Aaron Curry now combine to give the Seahawks one of the league’s best linebacker groups.

APRIL 30: Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora was on KJR-AM with Mitch Levy this morning and shared a number of interesting tidbits.

Eric Williams has a rundown with some of the quotes here.

The biggest piece of news is that Mora believes the team is close to resigning linebacker Leroy Hill. The team removed the franchise tag from Hill over the weekend, leaving the 26-year-old as a free agent.

Mora provided more insight into the team’s decision to remove the franchise tag. He told Levy that the team hoped to avoid a long holdout because the Seahawks are installing a new defensive scheme and Hill needs to have time to learn it.

Mora also noted that recently signed cornerback Ken Lucas will be the starting right corner to start, instead of Josh Wilson.