Jeff Samardzija

[Backtobanks]

Why would he go back to football when he's making good money and has a NTC.

[rocket]

because we all hate him and it would make us happy

[Little Slide Rooter]

in '06, it was Neifi Perez

In '07, it was Will Ohman

In '08, it was Bob Howry

in '09, it was Aaron Miles

The question is, will Jeff Samardzjia stick around long enough to be 2010s representitive for all that is wrong in the world?

[jersey cubs fan]

Why would he go back to football when he's making good money and has a NTC.

 

His contract only runs through 2011, and he only makes a couple million a year right now. Once his contract is up, and assuming the Cubs don't pick up options, I believe he will be arbitration eligible only, and not a free agent (unless turning down the options automatically makes him a free agent). So, after 2011, he'll be in his mid 20's and potentially done with baseball, or at least done making big money in baseball. If he works at it he could get a 5-6 year NFL career and double what he's made so far in baseball.

[rynefan]

in '06, it was Neifi Perez

In '07, it was Will Ohman

In '08, it was Bob Howry

in '09, it was Aaron Miles

The question is, will Jeff Samardzjia stick around long enough to be 2010s representitive for all that is wrong in the world?

 

I don't know. There could be quite a list of candidates for that role. It's still early.

[jersey cubs fan]

Ohman and Howry? Do they really belong on that list?

[jersey cubs fan]

Shark featured on deadspin

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Samardzija is the source of frustration not because he's bad, but because he's always been bad, the management should have known that he's always been bad, and the fact that they don't think he's bad proves the existence of a humongous blindspot in the judgement of the people who are running the Cubs.

[Backtobanks]

Why would he go back to football when he's making good money and has a NTC.

 

His contract only runs through 2011, and he only makes a couple million a year right now. Once his contract is up, and assuming the Cubs don't pick up options, I believe he will be arbitration eligible only, and not a free agent (unless turning down the options automatically makes him a free agent). So, after 2011, he'll be in his mid 20's and potentially done with baseball, or at least done making big money in baseball. If he works at it he could get a 5-6 year NFL career and double what he's made so far in baseball.

 

So he will be 27 years old and not having played football for 5 years, he's going to get into football shape and find some GM to sign him and pay him big money have have a 5-6 year NFL career. :pig: :pig: :pig:

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't see why he couldn't. It's not that hard of a stretch at all. He's only guaranteed $10m via baseball. It shouldn't be that hard for him to make that in 5-6 years in the NFL, assuming he was as good a receiver as some people thought he was. There's absolutely no reason why the time off should prevent him from being able to get back into football shape. He's not a defensive end or linebacker, he's not a QB, he's not playing the young man's instinctive position of RB. He's a receiver.

 

Maybe he doesn't want to. Or maybe he won't work hard enough now that he's made millions in baseball. Or maybe the Cubs will hang onto him longer than they should, exercising the options and keep him around until he's in his late 20's.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't see why he couldn't. It's not that hard of a stretch at all. He's only guaranteed $10m via baseball. It shouldn't be that hard for him to make that in 5-6 years in the NFL, assuming he was as good a receiver as some people thought he was. There's absolutely no reason why the time off should prevent him from being able to get back into football shape. He's not a defensive end or linebacker, he's not a QB, he's not playing the young man's instinctive position of RB. He's a receiver.

 

Maybe he doesn't want to. Or maybe he won't work hard enough now that he's made millions in baseball. Or maybe the Cubs will hang onto him longer than they should, exercising the options and keep him around until he's in his late 20's.

 

The problem is that Samardzija would be 27 by the time he would be able to step onto a football field for the first time after his Cubs contract ends. And he would not be picked high in the draft because of his age and his time away (although he would still be drafted because he did have 1st round talent). That would make him have a small first contract and by the time he could hit free agency he would be 30/31. He'd have a very hard time making 10 million in the NFL unless he became a breakout star very quickly.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Would he need to go through the draft?

[jersey cubs fan]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I don't think so.

[Soul]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I was wondering this as well. I don't believe anyone drafted him before to retain his rights. If so, then wouldn't that mean he still needs to go through?

 

I'm not sure.

[CubColtPacer]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I don't think anyone is allowed to skip the draft. There have been people who didn't play college football who have been drafted and others who have signed as undrafted free agents. I don't know of anybody who's been able to come right off the street and sign as a free agent though. They could be out there, but I've never heard of it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I don't think anyone is allowed to skip the draft. There have been people who didn't play college football who have been drafted and others who have signed as undrafted free agents. I don't know of anybody who's been able to come right off the street and sign as a free agent though. They could be out there, but I've never heard of it.

 

What about the Eagles Invincible guy? He was already eligible for the draft and nobody took him, which should put him in the same situation as any undrafted free agent.

[dew1679666265]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I don't think anyone is allowed to skip the draft. There have been people who didn't play college football who have been drafted and others who have signed as undrafted free agents. I don't know of anybody who's been able to come right off the street and sign as a free agent though. They could be out there, but I've never heard of it.

 

If players could skip the draft I'd think more would as a means to get a bidding war started. Or guys who expect to go in the later round might skip it in order to have more flexibility in who they sign with.

 

I don't know for sure, though.

[dew1679666265]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I don't think anyone is allowed to skip the draft. There have been people who didn't play college football who have been drafted and others who have signed as undrafted free agents. I don't know of anybody who's been able to come right off the street and sign as a free agent though. They could be out there, but I've never heard of it.

 

What about the Eagles Invincible guy? He was already eligible for the draft and nobody took him, which should put him in the same situation as any undrafted free agent.

 

If you enter the draft and are not selected, then you can sign with anybody. Samardzija, however, would be trying to enter the league without ever entering the draft. And if he entered the draft, he'd likely be selected somewhere.

 

Ok, now after looking into it a bit more, I'm not sure if Papale entered the draft at any point.

Edited April 7, 2010 by dew

[Ding Dong Johnson]

He was already eligible for the draft and nobody took him, which should put him in the same situation as any undrafted free agent.

That's pretty much what I was thinking.

[jersey cubs fan]

Would he need to go through the draft?

 

I don't think anyone is allowed to skip the draft. There have been people who didn't play college football who have been drafted and others who have signed as undrafted free agents. I don't know of anybody who's been able to come right off the street and sign as a free agent though. They could be out there, but I've never heard of it.

 

If players could skip the draft I'd think more would as a means to get a bidding war started. Or guys who expect to go in the later round might skip it in order to have more flexibility in who they sign with.

 

I don't know for sure, though.

 

Except teams would just take them. Teams didn't waste a pick on him because they knew he had a big MLB contract that forbade playing football for several years.

[jersey cubs fan]

If you enter the draft and are not selected, then you can sign with anybody. Samardzija, however, would be trying to enter the league without ever entering the draft. And if he entered the draft, he'd likely be selected somewhere.

 

What constitutes "entering a draft"? Underage players have to declare, but I'm guessing any senior is just in it automatically.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't know if seniors have to file paperwork for the draft to be eligible like underclassmen do. If they do, and Samardzija never filed, then he still has never been through the draft and would likely have to go through. If they automatically are eligible without paperwork, then nobody took him and he could sign as a free agent.

[dew1679666265]

If you enter the draft and are not selected, then you can sign with anybody. Samardzija, however, would be trying to enter the league without ever entering the draft. And if he entered the draft, he'd likely be selected somewhere.

 

What constitutes "entering a draft"? Underage players have to declare, but I'm guessing any senior is just in it automatically.

 

Like CCP said, I'm thinking they have to file paperwork to let NFL teams know they're a draftable prospect. I just kinda always assumed that, though, so I could be wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

I doubt he would have to go through the draft, but that makes very little difference to the my point. He wouldn't sign a blockbuster free agent contract anyway. My point is he could get back into the sport.

[CubColtPacer]

I doubt he would have to go through the draft, but that makes very little difference to the my point. He wouldn't sign a blockbuster free agent contract anyway. My point is he could get back into the sport.

 

Agreed that he wouldn't sign a blockbuster contract. I think he could get back into the sport, but I doubt he would make what he has made so far in baseball (plus with his profile one good year in baseball could earn him a steady stream of money for a while longer).

 

I do think you're right that he wouldn't go through the draft though. This draft profile has him listed as likely to be undrafted because of the baseball contract. That makes me think he likely was at least on the board in 2007 to be drafted.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2007/draft/players/7370.html