The move creates a bit of uncertainty about where Hill fits into the Seahawks' future plans, and came just hours after Seattle selected Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry with the team's No. 4 overall pick in the first day of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

Curry will likely sign a lucrative, multi-year deal with the team and join a talented linebacking unit that includes Hill and Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

The Seahawks designated Hill with the franchise tag this offseason. He did not show up to the team's pre-draft minicamp in April and had not signed the $8.3 million tender, although coach Jim Mora indicated at the time there was no animosity between the two sides, and that Seattle was still negotiating with Hill.

Hill reportedly turned down a six-year, $36 million deal offered by Seattle.

Even though the franchise tag was removed, Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell said the two sides will continue negotiations.

Hill was arrested in January and charged with marijuana possession in an Atlanta suburb after police there found the Seahawks linebacker passed out behind the wheel at a major intersection in suburban Atlanta with less than one ounce of marijuana in the vehicle.

Hill later publicly apologized for his actions.

Ruskell stood behind Hill, and both parties said they were moving forward.

--In somewhat of a surprise, the Seahawks did not draft a running back. Coach Jim Mora said that he is happy with the current situation at running back, and believes that Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett and Justin Forsett can get the job done next year.

Seattle offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said getting an interior lineman and another wide receiver was more a priority in the draft.

"I like Julius," Mora said. "I have a history with T.J. Duckett, which was a successful history. He was a successful back for us in this scheme at Atlanta. We signed Julius as a free agent last year.

"I thought that was a real good move for us, and I haven't come off that. I like the guy, and I think he's a good back, and I think this is the right scheme for him. I feel like we can win with those three guys. I do. We have a good fullback. We have a nice running scheme, and they all three fit into it very well."

-- Seattle is one of five teams to have never held the No. 1 overall pick. The other teams are Baltimore, Jacksonville, Denver and Carolina.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We stayed true to our board, and we always like to do that. And it is easier to do that when you feel that you are not a hostage to need, which has been our theme and the way that we want to go through this, and that's what we did." - Seattle Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell commenting on the selection of Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry.