As far as the Colorado Rockies are concerned, Russell Wilson is a baseball player and will continue to be a baseball player throughout the remainder of the season.
"He has not once come to us and expressed an interest in playing football this year," Marc Gustafson, the Rockies' senior director of player development, said in an interview today. "It is not an issue between the Rockies and Russell. It has never been brought to our attention."
In an interview 12 days ago, Wilson said he had not made a decision on whether he would return to N.C. State for a final year of football. Wilson signed a contract with the Rockies last year and is playing baseball this season for the Asheville Tourists, the Rockies' Class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League.
But late last week, NCSU announced the star quarterback had been given a release from his scholarship and was free to play at another school, if he chose. Wilson then created a stir when he said he was "torn up" and heartbroken about not being able to return to the Pack, that he would not have requested a release had he been given the opportunity to compete for the starting job.
Speculation quickly began about where Wilson could land and play football: South Carolina, Auburn, UCLA, Alabama ... a number of schools have been mentioned.
Gustafson said he had read the stories and the comments made by Wilson. Asked if he expected Wilson to play for the Tourists until the season ends Sept. 5, he said, "Absolutely."
Gustafson did not go into the specifics of Wilson's contract with the Rockies, but said there is "protection for the club and protection for the player."
"When you have a football/baseball player or a baseball/football player, there are details in the contract that if you do pursue football, there might be some money that may have to be returned," he said. "But it's not an issue. It has not been brought up.
"Is an option open (to play football)? It might be. But there has been no indication to us about any football activity, whatsoever. His total focus is on baseball."
Gustafson said Wilson's batting average has improved and his fielding has been solid. He said he did not believe the uncertainty about Wilson's plans had caused a problem with his play with the Tourists.
"Is all this a distraction for Russell? Absolutely not. He's working as hard as anyone," he said. "We're big on Russell. He believes in himself and has a lot of confidence in himself.
"We want to see Russell Wilson in the big leagues."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Pick One
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 02:06 — ncsfeddieFellow Pack fans, you need to keep something in mind when evaluating RW. It would be one thing if all the top receivers from last year were coming back. If that were the case it would be easy for RW to just pick up where he left off. The truth is we lost a lot and have a lot of new faces catching the football. Given the limited amount of practice time allowed during the season it was absolutely essential for the starting QB to participate in spring practice to develop timing and chemistry with the new receivers. TOB knows this and I'm sure he expressed this to RW. I admire and respect Wilson for his contribution to NCSU football but I just don't see where he's going with this. I don't know everyone that has played MLB and NFL at the same time but I'm sure it's a short list. The two I can think of are Bo Jackson and Primetime and RW is neither one physically. Also I can't think of anyone who played MLB and QB in the NFL recently. The sheer difficulty and complexity of the QB position make it a full time job. Wilson already has question marks about his potential as an NFL QB, most noteably his size. On top of that you're going to tell NFL coaches and GM's you'll need 8 months a year off to play baseball? It would be one thing if he was unanimously declared to be a Peyton Manning/Alex Rodriguez hybrid, then I could see him dictating terms in both sports. The reality is that he's a 4th round MLB pick and a long shot NFL prospect. TOB's job is to put the NCSU football team in the best position to win, not worry about how to accommodate someone's minor league baseball career. IMO if RW wants to be a professional athlete he needs to pick one sport and give it everything he has. I wish him the best of luck in whichever one he picks.
good summary
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 09:42 — JPDOhioThe QB position angle hasn't been addressed on this site that I can remember, and it is a key part of the issue. The leadership role a QB plays requires a year round commitment, especially at the professional level.
Regarding Bo and Primetime, it seems to me that they had much more success in football than either achieved in baseball. It is vey difficult (if not impossible) for a position player in baseball to succeed on a part-time basis. Maybe a pitcher would have a shot at pulling it off, but hitting major league pitching is a whole nuther issue.
Totally agree with both
Thu, 05/05/2011 - 23:04 — unc098Totally agree with both comments.
Both the NFL and MBL have evolved into a totally different animal since the days when it was possible to play both sports. Its just not going to happen for RW no matter what his skill level is. Just look at MJ and his flirtation with baseball. A total lark. Glad I bought his rookie baseball card though.
If wilson is so good; why is he only in the Single A Minors?
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 21:44 — BigSharkI hope RW makes it in the pros.
What do "Single A Minor Leaguers" make? Squat. Not enough to live on.
So how is RW paying his bills? Does he have a real job? Is he still at ncsu finishing his degree? How will he pay to come up thru the minors???
How committed is this exec to RW???
rw IS probably doing just fine.
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 12:42 — JPDOhioI don't know what the standard contract terms are for a 4th round draft choice, but my guess is that it is somewhat higher than a living wage. So, financially, Russell probably is in good shape, although if he leaves the Rockies to play football this fall there probably will be an adjustment built into his contract. There also may be a clause that requires the return of at least some of his signing bonus.
Regarding his degree, I understand that he is working on a graduate degree, which many people do over time when they are fully employed.
Sign on bonus
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 11:34 — gvillegatrHe got a sign on bonus. He finished his under graduate degree.
how smart does TOB look
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:35 — dar456how smart does TOB look now? if RW doesnt play football for anyone next season its still clear to MG that TOB was behind him all the way. furthermore if RW was even on the fence and TOB was waiting to hear what his intentions were, MG would have bailed. ultimately TOB could have risked not having either QB next season but instead he made a decision and its looking like it was the correct one. the pack will be ready to play when september gets here. we got all the right pieces in place to have another strong season.
How smart does he look now?
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:55 — gvillegatrThis was his play all along and the blind mice are following right along with the pied piper. You'd think TOB had won no less than nine games every year since he's been here.
no unccheat fan...
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 09:18 — izzykareemShould ever talk about blind mice following the piped piper not with how the sleaziest athletic department in the state got defended and is still getting defended to the bitter end by the blind mice unc fans.
Athletic dept
Wed, 05/04/2011 - 11:32 — gvillegatrShow me where UNC's athletic dept has cheated. Where's your proof ? Not one piece of evidence has been shown that states UNC athletic dept has cheated at anything.
But right here, on ACCNow, we have plenty of evidence stating ncsu fans defending TOB time after time even though this "football" school has a worse record than a "basketball" school over the last four years (TOB vs Butch). Like I said, blind mice ...
Next.
so TOBs intentions were to
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 14:34 — dar456so TOBs intentions were to have RW hold out without committing to play football or finsih the season for the tourists, stir up a s--- storm of controversy, divide the fanbase, and then make MG the starter? are you one of the blind mice you mentioned?
You're not very smart
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 15:30 — gvillegatrIs that what you thought I was implying ? Nope. The play was to allow MG to be starter this season after it was assumed RW was done. And he (TOB) hasn't swayed away from it yet.
your'e not very smart
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 15:52 — dar456either youre a bandwagon UF fan that lives in greeneville or youre very lost. either way, im not going to dumb myself down to discuss this on your level.
Hhhmmm
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 16:18 — gvillegatrSo you're still telling me what I am talking about. Or at least you're not saying your not.
And it would be Greenville. That goes for any Greenville in the USA. Not to mention UF is located in Gainsville. It's a dump and I do not root for the Gayturds. If anything out of Fla, I root for UM.
NCSU quarterbacks
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:13 — peetiepupPack fans,
NCSU will have at least 3 quarterbacks on the roster in September, NOT including the great Russell Wilson.
Mike Glennon is a rising junior who coach O'Brien apparently has a lot of confidence in. Another quarterback, Tyler Brosius (?), redshirted last year. He is a big, strong, guy who threw many thousands of yards passes in high school. It's possible that he could be a good quarterback if Glennon is injured.
Another quarterback recruit, Brian Taylor, joins the squad in August. He also was a very good high school qb who threw for many thousands of yards AND, like Wilson, plans on playing baseball for NCSU.
Nothing is for sure, but Russell Wilson leaving to play baseball doesn't necessarily leave NCSU thin at quarterback. I trust coach O'Brien. And I wish Russell Wilson great success, which I'm going to be betting on.
tyler brosius looked very
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:43 — dar456tyler brosius looked very sharp in the spring game. given he was going up against the 2nd team but his throws were accurate and he has a strong arm. im really liking what TOB is putting together in Raleigh
And
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:52 — gvillegatr6 foot 5 inch Glennon couldn't throw over the defensive line in the Spring Game.
oh no! Mike Glennon threw
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:58 — dar456oh no! Mike Glennon threw an incomplete pass during the spring game, what are we gonna do???
Oh no
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 15:24 — gvillegatrTyler Brocious looked better than MG in the SG. What are we gonna do !?!?
Focus Russell Focus
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:04 — tbr549Russell
If you want to get paid for playing major league sports. You need to focus on your baseball career. We are all behind you to succeed in the majors. But nobody in professional sports is playing two different sports. It's a huge accomplishment to make it in one. That's reality.
So
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:49 — gvillegatrJust bc "no one else is doing it" doesn't mean it can't be done. I don't know how to feel bc only non-state fans are showing support for RW and what he wants to do.
finally
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 12:55 — JPDOhioWord from the people signing Russell's paycheck.
If Asheville makes the playoffs (they currently are in first place in the Southern Division), the season could extend to Sept 17. Apparently, RW will either abandon his team to join someone for preseason or join his new college team cold after the season has already begun.
How any of this makes sense is beyond my limited comprehension.
Jpd
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:01 — gvillegatrApparently RW's fathers dream was to play in the NFL and he came up short. I have no idea how short. Maybe someone else can shine some more light. This is why he is so determined to possibly drop beisbol and go back to football ... live out his fathers dream.
You probably are right
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 14:05 — JPDOhioI have avoided the issue of Russell's father out of respect for the family's terrible loss. I don't doubt for a minute that some (maybe a lot) of what Russell is struggling with now has to do with the memory of his dad. As critical as I have been of Russell's approach to this situation, he remains a fine young man who was raised right by a good man.
I do think that he is conflicted now and could really use some direction and sage advice. I truly do wish him well and hope that he eventually understands that he has to make a choice and soon. Otherwise, both opportunities may slip from his grasp.
Short answer
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:58 — SurferProbably about 5 inches.
I think that's exactly
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 13:09 — mad_maxI think that's exactly what's going on inside Russell's head right now. Sometimes it's tough to put emotions aside and make the best possible decision. Poor guy...I don't think a lot of people really understand how difficult it must be to lose your father at a relatively young age like RW did. I really hope he's successful in whatever path he takes, and he needs to know that his father was/is surely proud of him no matter what decision he makes.