Russell Wilson would consider playing baseball for the Mariners

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said he'd consider playing baseball if he were traded to the Seattle Mariners, as reported by ESPN. Wilson said as much appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night, though this didn't seem like a contract ploy given that he was suggesting he could play both football and baseball.

Wilson already has a contract with the Texas Rangers, but has said that playing both sports would be very difficult. Playing for the Mariners would be similarly difficult in reality, but the Mariners being in Seattle as well seems to make things more interesting for Wilson.

Kimmel asked Wilson if a trade to the Mariners would make him take a "whole different look at it," to which Wilson said he would "definitely consider it."

Wilson is currently set to play out the final year of his rookie NFL contract, and will make $1.5 million for his efforts this season. He and the Seahawks have been trying to work at a contract extension this offseason, but Wilson likely wants to be the highest-paid player in the league and the Seahawks are reluctant to give him that kind of money. Their back-and-forth has been all over the place, and at one point Wilson was suggesting that baseball was a fallback for him if a deal didn't get done.

That's obviously not going to happen. Wilson's earning potential in the NFL is far greater than it will ever be in baseball, and the Seahawks would be foolish to let him go at this stage. Most believe something will get done eventually. It's at least interesting that Wilson has invited the possibility of baseball being an option alongside football though, especially if something like a trade to the Mariners could facilitate the possibility further.