National Football League

Russell Wilson 'would definitely consider' playing for Mariners

Published Jul. 3, 2015 10:59 a.m. ET

foxsports

By Jason Rowan

Russell Wilson made an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday night. And among the jokes and silliness typical of shows like Kimmel’s late-night gabfest, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback — currently mired in contract negotiations that are progressing slowly at best or at a virtual standstill at worst — hinted that he would seriously contemplate becoming the latest two-sport athlete if the right opportunity presented itself.

Wilson, a talented baseball player currently under contract with the Texas Rangers organization who has participated on a limited basis in the team’s spring training, was asked by Kimmel whether he has ever thought about playing in both the NFL and Major League Baseball, under the very specific condition of having his rights transferred to the Seattle Mariners.

“If you got traded to the Mariners organization, would you then take a whole different look at it?” Kimmell asked.

“I would definitely consider it, sure,” Wilson answered.

Wilson’s protracted contract odyssey over the past several months has been one of the biggest talkers of the NFL offseason as the league navigates through its dog days (as if there is such a thing in the National Football League). Despite seemingly endless and ongoing talks and negotiations between the quarterback and the Seahawks, little to no progress apparently has been made.

From reports that the parties are “tens of millions apart” to Wilson expressing optimism that things will work out in some way or another — despite sending cryptic tweets about “lack of gratefulness and respect” — the quarterback’s future in Seattle past this season has never been more murky.

Wilson, due $1.5 million next season on the last year of his rookie contract, recently mentioned that he will be ready to perform at a high level next season no matter the outcome, saying, “Just let my play speak for itself. … No matter if it’s $25 million or if it’s $1.5 million — I’ll be ready to go.”

Wilson’s off-the-cuff remarks about playing baseball for the Mariners should probably be taken as nothing more than harmless talk show banter. But as is often the case in sticky situations such as the one Wilson and the Sehawks find themselves in, nothing should be cast aside as mere bluster.

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