During a segment on the NFL Network's "Back to Football" program, Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reported that the Seattle Seahawks were holding three-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu out of practice as they attempt to restructure his contract.
Tatupu has five years and over $25 million remaining on his current contract, which includes a $4.35 million base salary and a cap number of $6.116 million.
A second-round pick out of USC by the Seahawks in 2005, Tatupu topped 100 tackles in each of first three seasons in the league, adding 6.5 quarterback sacks and eight interceptions as he earned three straight trips to the Pro Bowl and a six-year, $42 million contract extension in March of 2008.
In the three seasons since, Tatupu has 214 tackles with two quarterback sacks and two interceptions in 36 games. Tatupu missed most of 2009 with hamstring and a torn pectoral muscle, and while he played in all 18 regular and playoffs games in his first season back with head coach Pete Carroll, Tatupu had both knees operated in January.
Should Tatupu decline a restructure and be released, David Hawthorne would slide to middle linebacker. Hawthorne led the 'Hawks in tackles while filling in for Tatupu in 2009, and signed a one-year extension with the club last November.
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