Hutchinson's best block came against Seahawks

Steve Hutchinson was part of a unit. Part of probably the best offensive line in the game.

This was a group that hung out together. Ate dinners together and opened yawning holes that helped running back Shaun Alexander win the Most Valuable Player Award. This was a family. This line was a team within a team.

From the day he was drafted with the 17th overall pick in 2001, Hutchinson was coddled, given the enviable position of left guard on a line next to the pillar of all offensive linemen, tackle Walter Jones.

Hutch knew Jones would get double-teamed. And, as good as he is, Hutchinson saw early in his NFL career how much easier his life was playing alongside Jones.

With Jones beside him, Hutchinson made it into the playoffs three straight seasons. With Jones, he went to the Pro Bowl three consecutive years. With Jones, he went to Super Bowl XL.

And, when it was all over, and the Hawks practically promised they would re-sign him for something close to, but not exceeding, Jones' $52.5 million, Hutchinson screwed them.

Several weeks ago, the Hawks met with Hutchinson. They told him that, although they were "transitioning" him, they would match any offer out there. They asked him to call them when he got another offer.

He never called.

Instead he signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Vikings that, despite what special master Stephen Burbank ruled Monday, was a blindside blitz on an organization that has been loyal to Hutchinson and a kick in the groin to his now-former teammates.

A curious clause in Hutchinson's deal said he had to be the highest-paid lineman on his team or, if he wasn't, all of the $49 million in his new deal would be guaranteed. In Seattle, of course, Jones rightfully was the highest-paid lineman.

The contract was a creative bit of negotiating by agent Tom Condon. I'd like him to negotiate the rest of my life. Maybe he could get me a few more years.

But ultimately this deal is Hutchinson's responsibility, and there is something almost vindictive about this contract. He must have known the Hawks wouldn't match the deal. He must have known he wouldn't receive the $49 million guarantee.

It almost feels as if Hutchinson pulled an A-Rod on the Seahawks.

The Hawks shouldn't have risked losing Hutchinson by transitioning him, but they tried to atone for their mistake.

After they got the Vikings' offer sheet, they renegotiated Jones' contract so Hutchinson would be the Hawks' highest-paid lineman. It appeared they had found a way to keep Hutchinson without guaranteeing all $49 million.

But Burbank ruled Jones' re-worked deal was after the fact and could have no impact on Hutchinson's offer from Minnesota.

The question: How, in good faith, is a team supposed to match a crafty offer sheet like Hutchinson's if an arbitrator won't allow that team to make adjustments in its payroll to get the deal done?

What's the next creative clause another inventive agent will author?

What if the Dallas Cowboys offered Josh Brown, the Hawks' restricted-free-agent kicker, a contract that says he has to be paid more than his team's highest-paid running back? How could the Hawks match that when Dallas' highest-paid back makes about $400,000 and Alexander makes about $6 million.

What should the limit be on these exotic clauses?

A lot of good has happened to the Seahawks this month. They re-signed Alexander and pass rusher Rocky Bernard. They added depth to the defensive line by signing former Arizona tackle Russell Davis.

Now it remains to be seen what they will do to replace Hutchinson.

They could move center Robbie Tobeck to guard, where he started his NFL career, and hope Chris Spencer, Seattle's 2005 first-round draft pick, is ready to become a starter.

Or they could move Spencer, who also played guard in college. Or they could replace Hutchinson with Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, who has played every position on the line except center.

The Hawks can turn this negative into a positive if they use the money saved on Hutchinson to improve their defense by making the trade with the Jets for defensive end John Abraham and signing Julian Peterson, San Francisco's restricted free agent linebacker.

They can turn Hutchinson's cheap-shot contract into their defensive gain, even as the bad taste from Hutchinson's bad faith lingers.

Steve Kelley: 206-464-2176 or skelley@seattletimes.com