If Russell Wilson Plays Football, It's Gonna Cost Him

by Akula Wolf on May 25, 2011 1:21 PM EDT

There were some conflicting reports yesterday about Russell Wilson's whereabouts, but this item from the Citizen-Times confirms that Wilson was in Auburn on Tuesday. Wilson called the Rockies on Monday to talk to the organization about football, and son, they are somewhat disappoint.

A fourth-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 2010 draft, who received a $250,000 signing bonus, Wilson would have to give some of that back if he left the Tourists before the end of this season to play college football.

"It's a significant portion he would have to return," said Marc Gustafson, the Rockies' senior director of player development.

The Rockies let Wilson play football in 2010 without financial penalty, which was pretty generous of them given Wilson's injury history, but it's clear that a second season was never part of the plan. Russell "doesn't know what he wants to do," according to Gustafson, which I guess means Russell Wilson is 95% sure he's not sure if he can be sure about the sureness of his professional future in either sport. Or not. I don't know. Someone get Joe Schad's sources on the line.

Maybe Wilson is just now beginning to understand what a move back to football would cost him financially; that would definitely be cause for indecision on his part. Plus, if he leaves for fall camp, finances aside, he misses 33 games, and that's essential development time for him if he wants to continue with baseball. On the other hand, FOOTBALL. Shoot, this is hard.

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He signed a contract

He needs to honor that contract. It’s no wonder TOB made the choice he did. It’s become increasingly clear to me that Wilson looked very much like he had decided on baseball, and now he wants to maybe go back on that.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 25, 2011 1:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

If part of that contract ...

… involves paying back a certain amount of money if time is to be missed, then that is not dishonoring the contract.

by PeeDub on May 25, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It sounds to me

Like this is a penalty for not fulfilling his contract. Why would a team pay him a bonus if they intended to maybe take it back so he could play football? I’ve never heard of it portrayed as the contract allows him to do something the team doesn’t want him to as long as he pays money back. I’ve always heard those situations described as breach of contract.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 25, 2011 9:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Just saying ...

… that a contract can have a whooooole lot of stuff in there. Even breaking a contract, so long as a new contract is agreed upon, is not that awful.

by PeeDub on May 25, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

That's called renegotiation

It doesn’t sound like the Rockies are very happy about this, so I’d be surprised if they give RW a new contract. He may be under contract for a few more years, and they may keep him if he doesn’t play pro football anywhere. But, he’s still not honoring the contract he originally signed if he comes back to college football this year. Hence the required payback.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 26, 2011 2:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Potentially

but part of a contract are the terms if a contract is broken.

I just don’t agree that one must honor a contract regardless. Circumstances change.

by PeeDub on May 26, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

True

There may be circumstances that mitigate the situation, but IMO, this is not one of them. He’s not going to be a high NFL draft pick, and if he breaks this contract, he’s severely limited his options in baseball. Sure, he could potentially go be a star in football, but he needs to think of his life after that. If he wanted to choose football, he should have made that choice sooner. Spring practice the last two years would have him in that. But, now, after getting drafted decently high in baseball and signing a pretty nice bonus, he decides that maybe its football he should go out for. It just doesn’t make sense.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 26, 2011 7:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

No More Mr Nice Guy

Welcome to the big leagues RW. This is no longer kid’s stuff. Time to grow up and make a decision.

by Wolphpack on May 25, 2011 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

TOB did RW a favor

kid keep the money. Its not often you get 250,000k as a bonus.

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on May 25, 2011 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Go for it...

Given that Wilson is a very bright individual, I have to think that he hasn’t spent the 250k.

Assuming he goes back to football and plays a season… What are the chances that a baseball team picks him up again – esp. now that he will have gotten football out of the way?

by Travelwolf on May 25, 2011 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

its not worth it

is it really worth it to spend 50k just to play football? Also how will it hurt his baseball development he may not get second contract.

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on May 25, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't know

if you were being pro for him going back, travel, but there is about zero chance his baseball career will continue if he leaves. I’m not saying the Rockies won’t give him a shot, but missing that much time will be very detrimental to his development. He was a 4th Rd pick, and that was a stretch. In his best interest, baseball is the better choice to stay with. If he comes back to football, I think he kills his chances at both sports, effectively.

by chip24spb on May 25, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions