Cold Hard Facts: Russell Wilson keeping baseball as an option?

Russell Wilson hasn't given up hope on a baseball career, or at least wants the Seahawks to think so. (AP)

Highlights from Thursday’s edition of “Cold Hard Facts” with John Clayton on 710 ESPN Seattle:

(0:22) Clayton delves into what could be behind Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s quote from an upcoming HBO Real Sports piece that indicates he hasn’t given up on being a two-sport star. Wilson played minor league baseball for two seasons before his NFL career began and has spent time with the Texas Rangers each of the past two spring trainings. While he was by no means a can’t-miss prospect in the minors – he hit just .228 in 236 plate appearances in his last Single A season – he was good enough to be drafted, and by making it known in public that he still has baseball as an option he could be using it as leverage while he and the Seahawks continue to talk about a contract extension.

(9:11) Linebacker Bruce Irvin has a fifth-year option coming up, and Clayton thinks the Seahawks would be smart to pick it up. While Irvin hasn’t garnered attention like other members on the Seattle defense, he’s become an integral part of their success by growing into a solid pass rusher from the outside.

(13:03) Irvin was in the news Monday for another reason. Showing a sense of humor, he posted a picture on his Instagram account from a Seahawks players vacation in Hawaii where he and new teammate Jimmy Graham are jokingly squared off against each other while members of the Legion of Boom try to keep them apart. Irvin and then-Saints tight end Graham famously had an altercation before a playoff game two seasons ago, but the picture gives the impression the two are on good terms now that they’re on the same side. Clayton sees the post as a good sign that the Seahawks have welcomed Graham with open arms despite past animosity.

You can listen to Cold Hard Facts in this link.