Samardzija gives up football

by Josh from Hollywood on Jan 19, 2007 12:18 PM PST

***EDITOR'S NOTE*** I was about to post this, but someone jumped on it with a diary. This certainly changes the wide receiver picture. Some thought Smardzija had the potential to be drafted high, so obviously that's no longer the case.

Link

The Cubs have paid him handsomely to dedicate himself to baseball full time, Drew Henson-style. Personally, I'm glad. I was worried the Niners might draft him at #11, which I thought would be a reach even if his baseball career wasn't an issue. No chance of that happening now.

That leaves only Johnson, Jarrett and Ginn as WRs who could conceivably be selected with that #11 choice. I'm of the opinion that Johnson is the only one worthy of that high a pick, and they would almost certainly have to trade up to get him.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Comments

smartassganga

what a pussy choosin baseball a game 4 dorks over playin in the da nfl.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 19, 2007 1:23 PM PST reply actions

He'll get more guaranteed millions

playing, even if he never makes the bigs. Look at Henson, D.J. Dozier and almost John Elway. Good move on his part. Good for the Niners too. Now we don't have to worry about drafting him. P***y? Maybe. Smart? No doubt.

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 19, 2007 1:46 PM PST reply actions

5 years $10 million

I'd have signed that too. Thats his money if he never throws a pitch out of A ball. And a no trade clause? No brainer. He made the right move.

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 19, 2007 1:54 PM PST up reply actions

tru

but he will always wonder if he could have made it in the nfl.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 19, 2007 7:21 PM PST reply actions

But

I doubt he loses any sleep over it when cashes in on a Gil Meche (5 years, $55 million)type deal at worst in 6 years.

by gatling on Jan 19, 2007 7:29 PM PST up reply actions

wr

one of the reasons why he signed was because caucasian wr's are not taking very seriesly in the nfl.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 19, 2007 10:00 PM PST reply actions

What?

Where did you come up with this nonsense? Samardzija was a consensus 1st round draft pick, but he wasn't taken seriously? Please.

by gatling on Jan 19, 2007 11:48 PM PST up reply actions

calmness

not him, but in the nfl caucasian wr's are not becoming all pro's are they? thats because its a speed position. like caucasian rb's.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 19, 2007 11:51 PM PST reply actions

This may be one of the most ignorant comments

that I've ever seen. If any color played a role in the decision, that color was green.

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 21, 2007 11:46 PM PST up reply actions

It reminds me of what Rush Limbaugh said

about McNabb a few years ago. Hmmm, as a Mexican, I wonder if Anthony Munoz should have become a wrestler instead of the GREATEST lineman to ever play the game. Or, if Tony Gonzalez should have given up football AND basketball because, whoever heard of a Mexican playing TE or being a All-Pro TE? No good white WR's?

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 22, 2007 12:00 AM PST up reply actions

so sad its bad

don't get mad at me. i am not a gm. just look at the numbers. al the owners are caucasian. they choose who is on the team. and somehow speed positions do not have many if any caucasians in it. why no black kickers? mcnabb is overrated. look at the number of season ending injuries he has had. you can't depend on him.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 22, 2007 8:00 AM PST up reply actions

What I'm trying to say

is that race doesn't come into play when it comes to talent. Not any more. If there is an Asian running back that can run a 3.8/40, and catch balls out of the backfield, scouts aren't going to say, "He's fast and has soft hands, but he's Asian." That's what you were saying, and thats ignorant. Talent is talent. BTW there was a ALL-PRO kicker (punter, actually) back in the early 90's who was black and his name was Reggie Roby. And he was pretty damn good.

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 22, 2007 9:21 AM PST up reply actions

its crazy

so one black kicker but that did not mean the nfl went looking for other black kickers. football players are giving positions starting from when their kids based on some coachs pre conceived notion on whta taht player should look like. we give too much sense on coaches. they are just as prejidice as the rest of society.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 22, 2007 9:39 AM PST up reply actions

Just stop

These nonsensical posts have no purpose, and no place here. If your knowledge of football is so limited you believe this stuff you're posting, I'd rather not see you post here anymore. It's not my blog, but I'm already tired of reading crap like this.

by gatling on Jan 22, 2007 1:57 PM PST up reply actions

suri

u must be white. haaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaa. go buy the team then.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 22, 2007 2:45 PM PST up reply actions

Question

What does my race have to do with you making idiotic posts? Teams don't go looking for best player of a particular race to fill a position on the team, they look for the best player period. If the best kicker available was African-American, he'd be on a team in the NFL. If the best wide receiver was white, he'd have a job. If the best quarterback was Hispanic, he'd have a job. If the best running back was Asian, he'd have a job.

This is 2007, teams aren't discriminating against players because of their race. What NFL general manager is dumb enough to pass over the best available player based on race? How would a guy keep his job selecting lesser players because they are the "right" color for the position they play? That's just stupid.

by gatling on Jan 22, 2007 3:24 PM PST up reply actions

the answer

white wr's and rb's get beat up more cuz the brothers like nothing more. thats why the qb's get protected now.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 22, 2007 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

Boy

That explains it all. lol

by gatling on Jan 22, 2007 3:44 PM PST up reply actions

look

at boxing.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 22, 2007 3:47 PM PST up reply actions

Boxing?

Most of your boxers today are hispanic and filipino. Granted, there are still a lot of black and white boxers, but pick up a copy of Ring and you'll see that most of the best fighters are hispanic.

As far as white people not wanting to take a beating, a majority of the offensive linemen in the NFL are white as well as a big chunk of defensive linemen and they take more punishment than any other position because they are slamming their bodies on every play.

Wide recievers take less punishment than any other position except for kickers and punters. If Antonio Bryant gets the ball thrown to him 15 times a game and gets hit every time, do you think he takes more punishment than Alex Smith who is rushed on every play. Before you answer, remember that Kwaime Harris is protecting him. Ask David Carr about punishment. Or Steve Mc Nair. All football players take a ton of punishment REGARDLESS OF COLOR

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 22, 2007 11:03 PM PST up reply actions

me see no color

hey its all psycological. if a white player isn running down the field with a ball and a black player is able to really take a shot at them they will. if theplayer is also black thye will make sure the hit does not hurt them. they don;t even know they are doing it. just ask a black boxer how excited they get facing a white boxer. mi st. john even said it in an interview. she gets a more excited facing a white woman. why whyask why you just don't understand. hey can you skate? hockey is for you.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 22, 2007 11:18 PM PST up reply actions

According to your logic

hockey wouldn't be for me because I'm Mexican. There isn't a whole lot of ice down in Mexico. I don't even know why I keep replying to you. You are like a trainwreck. I don't want to look, but for some reason, I can't help myself. Regardless of your race, one thing is for sure. Ignorance does not discriminate.

Nobody hit like Ronnie

by 42Blackout on Jan 23, 2007 2:43 AM PST up reply actions

Baseball was his first love

You gotta respect a guy following his heart.

by Brooklyn @ Niners Nation on Jan 20, 2007 7:10 PM PST reply actions

first round picks

they make double in gurantee money than he got paid.

who threw da snowball at da kicker?

by creekside on Jan 20, 2007 8:36 PM PST reply actions

Not necessarily

It all depends where he would have been drafted. Besides, NFL Wide Receivers don't get paid anything close to what MLB pitchers do. Average guys like Gil Meche and Ted Lilly got contracts worth $11 million and $10 million per year on average. If Samardzija reaches his potential, he's looking at $15 million year when he's a free agent. He couldn't make that in football.

by gatling on Jan 21, 2007 1:48 AM PST up reply actions

Yeah

I'm not going to miss him in the draft. I'm always skeptical of the two sport guys, and I wasn't convinced by Samardzija anyway. Hopefully this helps to puch that 11 pick to the defense, where I'd rather see it used.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Jan 20, 2007 9:55 PM PST reply actions

my question is

why do the cubs give a 5th round pick 5 years 10 million?

Bring back the classic Uni's!

by wjackalope on Jan 20, 2007 10:55 PM PST reply actions

Simple

That money got him to forego the NFL. He was a 5th round pick based on his limited college pitching and the threat of the NFL. Focusing on baseball full time, he's going to really break out I think.

by gatling on Jan 21, 2007 1:42 AM PST up reply actions

Simple

Because the Cubs forgot how to give out reasonable contracts to anybody with a name that somebody who watches ESPN casually might recognize. I hear they offered Stuart Scott 4 years for 9 million, but the league owners stopped them from completing negotiations just in time.

I keep reliving the moment when Steve Young almost fell down... over and over...

by howtheyscored on Jan 21, 2007 6:38 AM PST up reply actions