After it was announced Friday that the three-time Pro Bowl player signed a contract extension through 2015 with Seattle, Tatupu might want to spend the rest of the offseason looking for a long-term domicile. The team will be moving to a new practice facility in Renton this summer.

“I might be moving again,” he said. “I love it up here.”

The six-year extension is worth $42 million, with $18 million guaranteed, and could make Tatupu a Seahawk for the rest of his career.

“He’s one of those core guys,” Seattle general manager Tim Ruskell said. “A Matt Hasselbeck, a Walter Jones. You’ve got to put Lofa in that category as well.

“You see how many players come and go. If you hold on to the leaders, the core guys, we have to take that shot.”

Ruskell said the team restructured the contracts of defensive end Patrick Kerney, defensive tackle Craig Terrill, strong safety Jordan Babineaux and free safety Deon Grant to make Tatupu’s deal work.

“It doesn’t free up any cap space,” Ruskell said. “It’s not one of those kind of deals. That’s why we had to go to our other players.”

“I owe them a dinner,” Tatupu said of the foursome of defenders, “to say the least.”

Tatupu’s teammates will happily settle for having the 2007 All-Pro lead the defense for the next eight seasons. Since the 6-foot, 242-pounder was picked 45th overall in 2005 – a selection that many draft experts said was too high for a middle linebacker deemed too small and slow – he has totaled 105, 123 and 109 tackles as a starter in his first three seasons.

More than his superb play, Tatupu has provided stability at a position that was a revolving door during the first six seasons of coach Mike Holmgren’s nine-season tenure with Seattle. Tatupu is the only middle linebacker under Holmgren to start at least seven games in more than two seasons at the position – Orlando Huff started seven games in 2002 and 14 in 2004.

“He is very much a leader of our football team,” Holmgren said. “He is the first player at his position in my career as a head coach in this league where I go into every game, I don’t worry about what he does at all.”

Tatupu could have demanded a big payday by testing the free-agency market in two years, but he was content to stay in Seattle.

“You’re fighting for a couple more dollars,” he said of becoming a free agent. “Is it really worth it? Going to maybe a losing franchise? I’m very happy here.”

More moves possible

A little more than a month into the offseason, Ruskell said the team has “done pretty good” in the free-agent market. The Seahawks bulked up their offense, adding a pair of running backs in Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, guard Mike Wahle and tight end Jeb Putzier.

Ruskell said the team might sign more players before the draft in April, but they would not be earth-shattering moves.

“We’ll add some more players. They won’t be big deals,” Ruskell said. “But they’ll be strategic and add depth.”

The Seahawks have an opening at kicker after Josh Brown signed with St. Louis earlier this month.

Ruskell also reiterated that no decisions have been made regarding running back Shaun Alexander. There has been speculation that the team might release the 2005 NFL MVP after back-to-back career-worst seasons.

Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271

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