Ruskell and Hill’s representatives had preliminary discussions about a possible extension, but then Hill switched agents, firing Bill Strickland and hiring Todd France.

Hill said he nearly hired France, based in Atlanta, when he graduated from Clemson, but instead went with Strickland, who has more experience with NBA players.

Hill said he was not getting the type of attention from Strickland that he wanted, so he turned to France, a move that delayed extension talks.

“It is a good core of guys here,” Hill said Friday morning after the first session of the team’s three-day minicamp. “I love being up here, I love playing ball here. But I can’t just go out and worry about playing for a contract and whatever. I have to go out and play like I have been playing and improve every year.”

Ruskell said he has had some early discussions with France about an extension, but it has not progressed beyond that.

There is some thought that Hill might want to leave Seattle so he can be the featured linebacker on another team rather than the third-best linebacker on the Seahawks, behind Tatupu and Julian Peterson. The latter two were selected to the Pro Bowl the past two seasons.

“You hear you are sort of overshadowed by Lofa and Julian and everything, but I think they complement me, too,” Hill said. “There are a lot of plays that go that way and they get turned and come back my way.

“I think they complement me, and I think we complement each other. It will be good to rise above where I am at now, obviously, but I am doing good. I am happy here. All I can do is just wait it out.”

Tapp welcomes Jackson

When the Seahawks selected defensive end Lawrence Jackson with their first-round draft pick last week, it was a direct challenge to right end Darryl Tapp, who could lose his starting job.

But Tapp said he did not take the pick as an affront.

“If he is going to come in there with the mind frame to help us win games, I am all for it,” Tapp said.

Tapp was running with the first team Friday, but Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said there is a chance Jackson could start and Tapp could be brought in for obvious passing downs.

Tapp said he has been working this offseason at becoming more consistent. He had seven sacks last season, but four of them came in one game, against St. Louis on Oct. 21. He had only 11/2 sacks over the final nine weeks of the season.

“Lots of times last year I was a mainstay on the line, you would see me all the time,” Tapp said. “And there were other games where you didn’t know I was on the field. So I want to be more consistent through all the games.”

Tapp attributed his inconsistency to being a first-time starter, and to a fractured hand that he suffered against New Orleans the week before his four-sack game.

“It’s more psychological,” Tapp said of the hand injury. “You get used to babying it a little bit. You don’t throw it out there like you are used to, and it hinders you a little.”

Womack signs one-year deal

The Seahawks re-signed offensive lineman Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack to a one-year contract Friday morning. To make room on the roster, the Seahawks released Jonathan Lewis.

Bringing back Womack became necessary when the Seahawks did not take an offensive lineman in the draft last week. He was an unrestricted free agent and said he had not spoken to other teams.

“I don’t watch the draft anymore because then it seems like somebody is going to take my place,” Womack said. “I just wait to see what will happen and I go from there.

“This is like home. So it is just great to be back. Good to be around the fellas. Good to see a new coaching staff in place. I think we are going to be good this year.”

Camp absentees

Patrick Kerney (shoulder), Mike Green (foot), Marcus Tubbs (knee), Chris Spencer (thumb), Will Herring (knee), Walter Jones (shoulder), Ray Willis (foot), Rocky Bernard (foot) and Deion Branch (knee) will not participate in camp.

Holmgren revealed Friday that Bernard, who recently was arrested for domestic violence assault, had surgery to correct a foot injury that kept him out of practices for most of last season. Holmgren said he will be sidelined three to four weeks.

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