Cubs Go Fishing, Land Shark

Notre Dame All-American Wide receiver Jeff ("Shark") Samardzija has elected to forgo the NFL draft, and instead signed as a pitching prospect with the Chicago Cubs. Samardzija was projected as a first round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, and was listed on Mel Kiper's Big Board as the 14th best available prospect. The Cubs signed Samardzija to a five year deal worth $10 million.

Source

• http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/01/19/cubs.samardzija/index.html?eref=si_topstories
• http://proxy.espn.go.com/melkiper/index.html

Anonymous Fanatic #1

1049 days ago

Score 3

Ten million is probably a little more then the guaranteed money he would have gotten as an NFL rookie. Plus he doesn't have to take the physical beating that is the NFL season. Don't rejoice just yet Cubs fans, let's not forget Drew Henson's MLB career.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1049 days ago

Score 1

"Doesn't get the physical beating of the NFL...", which is half the physical beating he'll take as a Cubs pitcher!!! Zing! Yeah! I'll be here all week!

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The BeastAAA-er

1049 days ago

Score 1

I am a little dissapointed considering that the Packers were looking at him.

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ChristofMVP

1049 days ago

Score 2

He gave up the easy life of the NFL for bus trips in baseball. On the other hand, he gets $10M & his body will not be beaten to a point where his life will be shortened.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1049 days ago

Score 0

Has anyone considered that he might end up being better at baseball than football? I know the Drew Henson comparisons are there, but so are the Charlie Ward, Dave Winfield, and Kirk Gibson comparisons -they all (correctly) gave up football too.

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EnyboDiv-I Stud

1049 days ago

Score 4

Why can't he play WR for the Bears too? That would be cool.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1049 days ago

Score 0

It's not like they can't (waste a pick and) draft him to see if he'll try...

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KelsdadAll-Star

1049 days ago

Score 3

What if he just likes baseball better? It's nice to have options, but to him he may be just choosing his favorite sport. I mean, the NFL draft is six months away, if money was the reason he would have waited for after the football draft and played the two sports against each other. Like Drew Henson did.

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