Samardzija gives up football
Jeff Samardzija decided to give up football and stay with baseball. The former Notre Dame receiver, projected as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, agreed Friday to a $10 million, five-year contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs.
"Baseball is my first love. I played it my whole life," Jeff Samardzija said.
He returned to Notre Dame and helped the Irish make the Sugar Bowl, catching 78 passes for 1,017 yards as a senior.
His deal includes a $2.5 million signing bonus and the Cubs hold options for a sixth and seventh seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Jeff Samardzija said there would be no returning to football, even though he's headed for a stint in the minor leagues, probably starting at Class A Daytona after spring training. The deal also includes a no-trade clause.
"He has offered at any time in the five-year period to give the (signing bonus) money back. He wanted to make everything clear that there wasn't any turning back," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said.
Jeff Samardzija, 21-6 in 50 college baseball games, said he spent 10 to 12 hours a day weighing the decision on which sport to pursue.
"I felt the best thing to do was let him go back and play football. I went to see him play football, we talked regularly but it never came up, `What are you going to do?'" Hendry said. "He was going to do what he wanted to do and that's what he should do and that's what I told him."
Jeff Samardzija said longevity and the chance of injury were not major factors in his decision to go with baseball over football. And he said there is no sadness about giving up football after a great career with Notre Dame.
"It's an excitement for baseball. If there is a sadness for leaving football, I'm making the decision at the wrong time or just the wrong decision in general," he said.
He said Irish coach Charlie Weis was supportive when he told him he was turning to baseball.
|
