Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In what many perceived as a publicity stunt when the Texas Rangers selected Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the MLB Rule 5 Draft in December 2013 actually has turned into a work in progress.
Wilson has made it clear he wants to join the club of professional athletes who played two professional sports. Even though the Rangers have every intention of letting Wilson suit up for them on a full-time basis, they also believe there is no rush to get him on the roster.
“Russell has the competitiveness and work ethic to where he’d have a shot if he committed to baseball,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said, according to ESPN. “Obviously, he’s got a pretty good thing going on with the Seahawks, and we’re not going to get in the way of that. Playing quarterback is more intensive than the positions of other guys who have attempted to play both sports.”
Daniels’ last remark is where the problem may lie. Playing defensive back, running back or wide receiver makes it easier to play two sports because the positions do not require the same level of commitment as the quarterback position does. At the same time, Wilson appears to have the desire and determination necessary to accomplish his goal.
For the past two spring trainings, Wilson has showed up and played with the team. He showed enough skill to warrant legitimate interest. Obviously, he would have to have more dedication if anything were to come of it. Still, the fact that Texas wants him to play makes him more confident in his abilities.
“That’s why the Texas Rangers got my rights,” Wilson said in an interview with HBO’s “Real Sports” that will air Tuesday. “They want me to play. Jon Daniels, the GM, wants me to play. We were talking about it the other day.”
Just because Wilson and the Rangers believe it to be a strong possibility does not mean the Seahawks will automatically get on board. Clearly, watching their quarterback put in extra work with a team and a sport that is not theirs would certainly raise a level of concern for the organization. The possibility of strain and additional injury will become magnified. Not to mention, Wilson may stray from his current day job due to a liking to baseball, which could cause him to retire from football prematurely.
What it comes down to is if Wilson is good enough to make the team, it should be something the Rangers and the Super Bowl winning quarterback should consider. If the motive becomes nothing more than to sell tickets due to a lack of necessary skill on Wilson’s behalf, Texas should pass on the idea immediately.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
