Remember Samardzija?

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Samardzija regretting decision? Things haven't exactly gone as planned for Jeff Samardzija, the former Notre Dame wide receiver who eschewed the chance to be perhaps an NFL first-rounder in favor of a baseball-exclusive contract with the Chicago Cubs, but he's not ready to switch sports yet. Pitching for the Daytona Cubs of the Class-A Florida State League, Samardzija currently is 0-5 and has a 5.22 ERA. In 17 games, including 13 starts, Samardzija has pitched 69 innings and surrendered 93 hits and 24 walks, has just 25 strikeouts and has allowed opponents a .330 batting average. Samardzija isn't ready to give up, though, on baseball, and the Cubs, who made a huge investment to keep him off the football field, remain confident that he will turn things around. It is a little surprising, though, that some NFL franchise didn't use a late-round pick to grab Samardzija in this year's draft, just to get his rights for even a year.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insi...ns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=2920574

Its the slow time....we could always use another WR....

 

[rookBoston]

Reminds me of Michael Jordan trying his hand, and sucking. Then, ended up skulking back into the NBA.

More apropo, maybe, is Drew Henson, who "beat out" Tom Brady but chose baseball. And now has to be wishing he had a football career a millionth as successful.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I'm not that certain I'd have rated Sarmardzija a first round selection for the Pats, perhaps a late second/third rounder at best. Given BB had collected Moss, Stallworth, Welker, and Washington prior to the seventh round, I'm hardpressed to see the value of drafting Sarmardzija on a one year retainer after he'd sign such a lucrative offer with the Cubs.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I don't think the Pats ever had any interest in Jeff. Belichick wants players to whom football matters. Watching him in his senior year it was pretty apparent that the magic was gone, and I think that effected the entire team and Quinn in particular. He pitched through spring football practice. And in the fall he looked as if he wasn't prepared for it to get a little tougher once other teams had had a good long look at Charlie's offense and talent. Even in a game to game sense he would start out looking lackluster and try to crank it up in the 4th quarter. I think for him baseball was his love and football was just fun. Guys like that don't usually transition well into the NFL. I think he made the right choice for that reason - and $10M others.

 

[PATRIOT64]

Tom Brady almost became a catcher for the Montreal Expos in 1995

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Tom was drafted by the Expos in 1995 based on his highschool career. He opted to play football, accepted a scholarship to Michigan and never looked back.

 

[Commander Shears]

I really thought the Pats would use one of their 6th or 7th round compensatory picks on him. They'd have risked virtually nothing (no money at least), and would have a full year for Weis & Brady to sell him. If he was hitting under .200 and watching the Pats go to the Super Bowl playing the same basic offense that he already knows, I wouldn't have been shocked to see him go back to football. The Pats are by far the most likely team to draw him back, and it would have been an absolute steal.

 

[DarrylS]

I really thought the Pats would use one of their 6th or 7th round compensatory picks on him. They'd have risked virtually nothing (no money at least), and would have a full year for Weis & Brady to sell him. If he was hitting under .200 and watching the Pats go to the Super Bowl playing the same basic offense that he already knows, I wouldn't have been shocked to see him go back to football. The Pats are by far the most likely team to draw him back, and it would have been an absolute steal.

Can he be signed as a free agent if he wants to quit baseball and give football a go??

 

[BTTA]

He's overrated in both sports, but baseball was definitely the first thing to try. HOw long would it be in the NFL before he made $10M. I'd suggest never. He'd be a 4th or 5th reciever his entire career, if he made the league.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Can he be signed as a free agent if he wants to quit baseball and give football a go??

Yup, he's a UFA, free to negotiate with any team BUT there is a clause in his contract requiring him to repay the Cubs $2.5 million if he chooses to play any other sport professionally.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/ar...t_id=1782406&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

[PATRIOT64]

If I am not mistaken regarding the NBA and the San Antonio Spurs,Didn't they take a chance on drafting a player who had military obligations at the time and many a media person thought the Spurs were going to regret it?

His name was David Robinson - The rest is history

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Guaranteed $10.5 million for 5 years of work is a lot of money for a guy whose NFL future is not known. I can see why he took it.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

If I am not mistaken regarding the NBA and the San Antonio Spurs,Didn't they take a chance on drafting a player who had military obligations at the time and many a media person thought the Spurs were going to regret it?

His name was David Robinson - The rest is history

NFL Rules - there is a Reserve/Military list where active duty military personnel can be stashed. You may recall Navy RB Kyle Eckel, whom BB acquired? He was stolen by Miami off waivers before the Practice Squad could be signed, then placed on their Reserve Military list. He was discharged by the Navy and rejoined the Dolphins last season. There is no Reserve/Baseball list.

 

[TruthSeeker]

I think Samardzija would be a fine football player in the NFL. If baseball doesn't work out, I'd be shocked not to see him in the NFL.

 

[T-ShirtDynasty]

I think Samardzija would be a fine football player in the NFL. If baseball doesn't work out, I'd be shocked not to see him in the NFL.

Fine football players are a dime a dozen in the NFL. I've got to think that if there was anything beyond just the physical stats that are needed to make a great football player at the pro level, then Weis would have convinced either Belichick or Crennel to at least risk a 7th on securing his rights.

 

[PatsSteve1]

Besides his MLB contract, maybe the kid made it clear to NFL teams that he had no intention of playing any more football.

 

[DaBruinz]

Reminds me of Michael Jordan trying his hand, and sucking. Then, ended up skulking back into the NBA.

More apropo, maybe, is Drew Henson, who "beat out" Tom Brady but chose baseball. And now has to be wishing he had a football career a millionth as successful.

Except that Jordan went to baseball after "retiring". Rumors were abound that he was actually suspended for gambling and that the league didn't want a black eye over their star player so he voluntarily "retired".

 

[Caspir]

I really thought the Pats would use one of their 6th or 7th round compensatory picks on him. They'd have risked virtually nothing (no money at least), and would have a full year for Weis & Brady to sell him. If he was hitting under .200 and watching the Pats go to the Super Bowl playing the same basic offense that he already knows, I wouldn't have been shocked to see him go back to football. The Pats are by far the most likely team to draw him back, and it would have been an absolute steal.

I don't think the Cubs care if he hits .200 since he's a pitcher.

He was pretty overrated as far as pitching prospects go. He has velocity, and a good frame, not much else. The Cubs were foolish to give him that kind of money. He's now been demoted from the rotation to the bullpen, and if he has to stick there, they invested a whole lot of money in a relief pitcher. If I were him I would have played baseball too. More money, guaranteed contracts, less chance of injury. Even if he never plays in the Major Leagues, he still got paid more than $10m. Can't really go wrong there.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

I think the closest analogy to this situation is Danny Ainge. Coming out of college, with a good press and all (he would have been picked quite high in the NBA draft), he declared to the world he was playing baseball for the Toronto organization, so it was fruitless for anyone to waste a draft pick on him.

Only, Red Auerbach did just that.

Baseball apparently didn't please the guy like he thought it would, and after wiggling out of his baseball obligations, signed with the Celtics.

And what a team that was...

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Only, Red Auerbach did just that.

Baseball apparently didn't please the guy like he thought it would, and after wiggling out of his baseball obligations, signed with the Celtics.

And what a team that was...

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=aingeda01

Hitting .220 will make you rethink your options.......