Russell Wilson still loves baseball but isn't planning on leaving football

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson made it clear Wednesday that he still loves baseball, but has no plans to leave football.

"I didn't say I was going to leave the NFL," Wilson said on The Herd. "I love playing the game of football, to be one of 32 men [starting NFL quarterbacks] in the world who get to do what I do. It's a special thing and I've been able to play in two Super Bowls and I'm only 26 years old. That's been a blessing.

"But baseball was my first love since I was 3 years old. It's something that's meant a lot to me. It was my dad's dream for me to play two sports, so I've never killed the dream and probably never will. It's something that I think about all the time."

Wilson's interest in baseball has been a big topic recently because of his comments in an HBO interview for "Real Sports," which first aired Tuesday night.

"You never want to kill the dream of playing two sports," Wilson said in the interview with Bryant Gumbel.

Asked what's stopping him, Wilson said: "I don't know. I may push the envelope a little bit one of these days. That's why theTexas Rangersgot my rights. They want me to play. JonDaniels, the GM, wants me to play. We were talking about it the other day."

Daniels, however, said Saturday that he has no plans to push Wilson toward baseball.

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

Wilson is in the process of negotiating a new contract with the Seahawks that could pay him more than $100 million. Some people have viewed all the baseball talk as a negotiating ploy. Wilson played minor league baseball while still in college.

"There's a great correlation between baseball and football, especially in terms of playing quarterback," Wilson said Wednesday. "The mental focus you have to have with one play at a time and being in the moment. Baseball has helped me. I was always focused one at-bat at a time or one ground ball at a time. It really prepares you mentally.

"I have so much respect for baseball players and what it takes to play. It's not easy. Baseball has really helped me to be able to make certain throws, pitch the ball toMarshawn [Lynch]anddo certain things and escape and make plays. That's how baseball has helped me."