04/25/24
June 03, 2006
Irish baseball star promises he'll return to gridiron: The swiftest multitasker in college athletics cannot be rushed into choosing his future. He won't declare himself a football player, even though ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks him the No. 7 prospect overall (and No. 1 receiver) for the 2007 NFL draft. He won't declare himself a baseball player, even though Baseball America ranks him the No. 20 collegiate draft prospect and No. 36 overall prospect.
Would be interesting to calculate the average lifetime earnings of a first-round pick across the three major sports. (Sorry, hockey fans.) I'm guessing basketball > football > baseball, because of the guaranteed contracts in basketball and how many baseball picks never make it to the bigs (and therefore to the big money.)
posted by tieguy at 03:06 PM on June 03, 2006
found out what you won't to do and stick with it. but remember your still young, and time wait for know one.
posted by anndebra at 04:09 PM on June 03, 2006
The signing bonus alone usually = big money, for first round picks. If you average the salarys for every player in each sport, I think it would be basketball, baseball football.
posted by mjkredliner at 04:38 PM on June 03, 2006
The signing bonuses in football are huge too, much bigger than baseball's. The #1 pick will step into a six year, $54M deal; last year's #1 pick in baseball signed a $6M deal. Odds are good that if the baseball player makes it to the majors (not guaranteed by any stretch) he'll make more money than the football pick (longer career, no salary cap) but only 2/3rds of first-round picks make the bigs, and only 1/2 stay in the bigs for more than 3 years. If the average NFL player stays in the league for three years, then the NFL first rounders probably have longer careers and better up-front money than the baseball players, on average. But the upside for baseball players, with no salary cap and longer careers, is higher.
posted by tieguy at 05:30 PM on June 03, 2006
Yea- it sounds like the kid is leaning towards football, which has many advantages- but also has disadvantages. He will definately get drafted in the top 10, but the money isnt all guaranteed. Baseball has tons of potential to pay off, especially if a big market team gets him. It didn't sound like he was really interested in playing basketball or hockey professionally, but its good to keep them as "backup plans". This kid has tons of potential, and he does well in school too.
posted by redsoxrgay at 06:09 PM on June 03, 2006
If I was ever good enough to play D1 football I would've wanted to play at ND so my point is it's probably harder to leave the Irish FB team than to sign a baseball contract you know there's always the next bb draft
posted by luther70 at 10:47 AM on June 04, 2006
I have to say if you have a legitimate shot at being #7 in football versus a late first rounder in baseball you should probably go football. The upfront money you would get at that draft slot should garauntee that you never have to hold a day job again, whereas baseball probably can't say the same at pick #36. What might be entertainment for us is a job for them and you have to secure your future first.
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:04 AM on June 05, 2006
Take baseball. The pay is just as good and odds are, a longer career if he's any good.