Rangers GM: 'We're not going to get in the way' of Russell Wilson's football career

It appears the Texas Rangers will stop short of publicly courting Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Rangers general manager, Jon Daniels, threw cold water on the claim by Wilson that the team was pushing him to play baseball.

"Russell has the competitiveness and work ethic to where he'd have a shot if he committed to baseball," Daniels told reporters Saturday, 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."

As more quotes emerge from Wilson's interview with HBO's Bryant Gumbel, it's clear the quarterback is serious about becoming a two-sport star.

"Let's be blunt," Gumbel says in an interview set to air Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, according to Pro Football Talk. "You played minor-league ball for a while. Correct me if I'm wrong. Numbers were .227 average, five homers, 26 RBIs. If the numbers were better, would you (play baseball and football)?"

"I wouldn't be worried about the statistics of it," Wilson replies. "I know I can play in the big leagues. With the work ethic and all that, I think I definitely could for sure. And that's why the Texas Rangers got my rights. And they want me to play. Jon Daniels, the GM, wants me to play. We were talking about it the other day."

Wilson is entering the final year of his rookie deal with the Seahawks and is in line for a big contract extension. During a recent interview with KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, Schneider declined to say whether Seattle would contractually prohibit Wilson from pursuing baseball. However, given the risk involved in playing two sports, it wouldn't be a surprise.