No More Football for Irish WR Samardzija

[Zeno]

Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to forego a pro football career for that of a baseball pitcher -- and he'll be well compensated for it.

Samardzija signed a five-year deal Friday to play baseball full-time, starting in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system.

ESPN.com's Wayne Drehs reports the deal is worth $8 million, guaranteed. A news conference was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

When the Cubs drafted Samardzija in the fifth round last June, giving him a $250,000 signing bonus, he intended to play both football and baseball professionally.

Last season, Samardzija pitched for Class A Boise and Peoria, where he finished a combined 1-2 with a 2.70 earned run average. He struck out 17 and walked 12 in 30 innings.

He is expected to start the season in Class A Peoria, where Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will be the manager

 

[abomb]

Samardzija signed a five-year deal Friday to play baseball full-time, starting in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system.

He is expected to start the season in Class A Peoria, where Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will be the manager

Wow and double wow. I figured this kid would be a good NFL receiver.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

8 million guaranteed is hard to pass up. He was probably a 2nd-3rd round selection.

 

[CardNots]

Over the long haul a decent baseball player will work more but earn much more money in their career than a decent football player.

 

[devilfan02]

8 million guaranteed is hard to pass up. He was probably a 2nd-3rd round selection.

I highly disagree. Kiper has him #17 on his big board and he's usually right on. I'd put money on it he'd have went end of the 1st. While he's probably making the right choice taking the 8 mill, he would have most likely been a first rounder

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I highly disagree. Kiper has him #17 on his big board and he's usually right on. I'd put money on it he'd have went end of the 1st. While he's probably making the right choice taking the 8 mill, he would have most likely been a first rounder

I stand by my 2nd-3rd round. This draft is deep, and I think that it would have been hard for him to make it in the 1st round.

I think that he is a great receiver, but would have lost stock after the combine.

All this of course is JMHO.

 

[Skkorpion]

Samardzija is a little slow and would only have been a possession WR in the NFL, at best, IMO. Baseball was the right choice for him. He was the ace of the Irish pitching staff and throws a 98 mph fastball.

 

[devilfan02]

I stand by my 2nd-3rd round. This draft is deep, and I think that it would have been hard for him to make it in the 1st round.

I think that he is a great receiver, but would have lost stock after the combine.

All this of course is JMHO.

I agree to an extent. I think that Rice and Jarretts stock are going to drop at the combine which is why Samardzija might got first round and be the third WR taken. As you said, JMHO

 

[Gambit]

Over the long haul a decent baseball player will work more but earn much more money in their career than a decent football player.

Yup. Football = more in the short term, but a good pitcher will clean up. Not to mention his career will be longer in baseball.

 

[D-Dogg]

Yup. Football = more in the short term, but a good pitcher will clean up. Not to mention his career will be longer in baseball.

And easier on his body overall.

 

[Gambit]

And easier on his body overall.

And more road trips into more cities to pick up the babes.

 

[Pariah]

It would have been a tough year for him to come out--this draft is deep at the top with talented wide outs. That said, I think he would have gone at the bottom of the first into the top or middle of the second. Not bad considering all of the WRs...

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I actually think that he would have been better suited at TE.

 

[PrescottLooie]

Samardzija signs 5yrs with Chi Cubs

It has been reported that ND WR Samardzija has signed a 5yr contract to bplay base ball for the Cubs. That's a significant WR off the draft list.

 

[The Commish]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=84850

 

[CardLogic]

I am not surprised at all. Samardzija made a good decision:

$8 million guaranteed!

As a pitcher plays only every 5 days or so (basically one game a week - same as football)

Longer career if successfull.

Much more money overall if successful.

Far easier on your body and long range health.​

And I don't even like baseball much, playing it's ok; watching not so much...

 

[PrescottLooie]

Oops, didn't see that this had already been posted. Sorry

 

[Gambit]

I am not surprised at all. Samardzija made a good decision:

$8 million guaranteed!

As a pitcher plays only every 5 days or so (basically one game a week - same as football)

Longer career if successfull.

Much more money overall if successful.

Far easier on your body and long range health.​

And I don't even like baseball much, playing it's ok; watching not so much...

I'm a huge baseball fan ('Stros are my team). I am going through withdrawal waiting for it to start.

 

[Red Hawk]

Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to forego a pro football career for that of a baseball pitcher -- and he'll be well compensated for it.

Samardzija signed a five-year deal Friday to play baseball full-time, starting in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system.

ESPN.com's Wayne Drehs reports the deal is worth $8 million, guaranteed. A news conference was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

When the Cubs drafted Samardzija in the fifth round last June, giving him a $250,000 signing bonus, he intended to play both football and baseball professionally.

Last season, Samardzija pitched for Class A Boise and Peoria, where he finished a combined 1-2 with a 2.70 earned run average. He struck out 17 and walked 12 in 30 innings.

He is expected to start the season in Class A Peoria, where Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg will be the manager

And what has this to do with the Arizona Cardinals?

 

[Metcalf Rules]

He's probably seeing what some of these major league pitchers are signing for and figures what the heck, why not. If Jeff Suppan can get 40 million for four years. talk about salaries getting out of control.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

And what has this to do with the Arizona Cardinals?

Because he was going to be a high draft pick in the NFL?

 

[Zeno]

And what has this to do with the Arizona Cardinals?

Because this is not only a Cardinals board but an NFL one.

 

[Gambit]

And what has this to do with the Arizona Cardinals?

Because the board was slow and I have 8 minutes to kill before I can leave work.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Albert Pujols will make him wish he picked football in a few years

 

[Gambit]

Albert Pujols will make him wish he picked football in a few years

By the time Sakfjasdiof gets into the bigs, Pujols will probably be starting the autumn of his career. I know he's officially listed as 26 or so, but that dude is at least 30.