LeRoy Hill broke suspension rules

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RENTON, Wash. -- The NFL is reviewing Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill's decision to attend last Sunday's game against San Francisco while he was suspended by the league.

Hill and coach Pete Carroll acknowledged Friday that Hill was in violation of his one-game suspension by attending the game. Hill said he didn't realize he couldn't attend the game as a fan and was there just to support his teammates.

"I didn't know. I went to the game and I thought I was fine. I was up in the stands, I didn't go on to the field or go in the locker room, nothing like that. I just went to the game to support my teammates," Hill said Friday. "I didn't know it was illegal."

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, league spokesman Randall Liu said the league does not expect to conclude its review of the matter until next week. Hill is expected to make his season debut Sunday in Denver.

Carroll also seemed in the dark about the suspension stipulations and Hill being unable to attend Seattle's home opener.

"I didn't know what the rule was on that one, I didn't tell him. So what he did he did on his own," Carroll said. "But we should have been able to let him know what was going on in that. We just didn't tell him."

Hill was suspended for his arrest on a marijuana-possession charge in Georgia. He began 12 months of probation for that in April. Additionally, Hill restructured the six-year deal he signed with Seattle before the 2009 season. Instead of the $6 million in base pay he was originally scheduled to make this season, Hill is taking a nearly $4 million pay cut. He'll be a free agent at the end of this season.

Hill's suspension also cost him an additional game check.

"The rules say that a guy that's suspended isn't supposed to be at the stadium and I didn't know that. So we found out the hard way," Carroll said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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