Kyler Murray

[Vanimal46]

This kid is quite the athlete. He went 42-0 in high school and won multiple Texas state championships. After agreeing with the A's to play 1 season of college football he wins the Heisman, and gunning for a national championship.

 

Will he end up choosing baseball considering how successful he's been as a QB?

[MN_ExPat]

Hard to say, as it was reported by MLB (I believe) that it was in his contract to give up football after this year.   There would almost have to be some provision in said contract that would require him to forfeit his rather hefty bonus should be violate said terms of the contract.

[nicksaviking]

I know NFL teams aren't as staunch in their demands that QBs be 6'5" anymore, but he is just so short. I know he's been good, but I think his height would normally keep any team from drafting him in the first round and then if they have to worry about baseball, no chance he goes high enough to give up his huge payday with the A's.

[Vanimal46]

I know NFL teams aren't as staunch in their demands that QBs be 6'5" anymore, but he is just so short. I know he's been good, but I think his height would normally keep any team from drafting him in the first round and then if they have to worry about baseball, no chance he goes high enough to give up his huge payday with the A's.

With Brees and Wilson tearing up the NFL under 6 feet tall I would hope height isn't a factor anymore. Then again, there are still a lot of stubborn coaches in the NFL that still salivate over a 6'6" 'traditional' QB.

 

Murray throws a beautiful pass and a lot of fun to watch at Oklahoma. Personally I'd rather see him under center instead of trying to find his way through the minor leagues.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Hard to say, as it was reported by MLB (I believe) that it was in his contract to give up football after this year. There would almost have to be some provision in said contract that would require him to forfeit his rather hefty bonus should be violate said terms of the contract.

He'd forfeit the bonus, but the A's wouldn't get a comp pick like teams normally do when a player doesn't sign.

 

I wonder if the A's could offer him more money after next year's draft (or, when they'd no longer be penalized for exceeding their bonus pool).

[Mike Sixel]

Get you knees and head busted up, or make millions playing baseball where he might hurt his arm....hmmmm.....

[MN_ExPat]

This just posted on MLBTR this morning...

 

Heisman Trophy winner and A’s draft pick Kyler Murray pointed towards the Athletics as his future destination, telling reporters (including KFOR.com’s Dylan Buckingham) Wednesday that, “As of right now, I’m going to play baseball. That’s about it.” 

 

Murray had given some recent indications that he could reconsider an NFL career in the wake of his star performance as Oklahoma’s quarterback this season, though yesterday’s statement would seem to indicate that he is ultimately preparing to join the Athletics’ farm system once his collegiate career is over. 

 

Scott Boras, Murray’s agent, also more or less said as much when speaking to MLB.com’s Jane Lee and other media members Wednesday at the Winter Meetings.  “When you win the Heisman Trophy, you are going to have a lot of information come to you and be looked at,” Boras said. “All I know is Kyler has a tremendous opportunity to be a great baseball player. He knows that, and I think that opportunity is already in place. He has every intention to be in Spring Training and advance that interest.” 

 

Murray was the ninth overall pick of the 2018 draft, and his A’s contract (which included a $4.66MM bonus) allowed him to play football for Oklahoma this season.

[Danchat]

Murray is 5’ 9”, which would make him a very short QB. I think the shortest starter is 5’ 11”... I understand his decision to play in the MLB over the NFL.

[gunnarthor]

I hope he picks Baseball. I think he'll be a pretty exciting player and baseball needs more of them. Plus it's just safer than football.

[Vanimal46]

I hope he picks Baseball. I think he'll be a pretty exciting player and baseball needs more of them. Plus it's just safer than football.

The way the NFL is changing rules catering to QBs are we sure baseball is safer than football?

[Mr. Brooks]

The way the NFL is changing rules catering to QBs are we sure baseball is safer than football?

Ask Alex Smith.

[Vanimal46]

Ask Alex Smith.

Of course there's one extreme example. For the most part QBs have been more healthy than ever. A QB may miss a couple of weeks but Smith is the only one this year to go on IR.

 

Ask Joel Zumaya if baseball is safe for his arm.

[Mike Sixel]

We have no idea how bad their brains are hurt by repeated blows. I would bet every penny I have that baseball players live healthier lives than football players.

[Mr. Brooks]

Of course there's one extreme example. For the most part QBs have been more healthy than ever. A QB may miss a couple of weeks but Smith is the only one this year to go on IR.

 

Ask Joel Zumaya if baseball is safe for his arm.

That's not one extreme example.

Smith's backup also broke his leg, Teddy Bridgwater was minutes away from emergency amputation, Carson Wentz currently has a broken back.

 

Zumaya isn't remotely comparable to Smith. One guy could no longer play baseball, the other may struggle to walk again.

 

No matter how much they coddle the QB, it's still a contact sport. I don't even consider which one is more dangerous to be a legitimate debate.

[gunnarthor]

 

The way the NFL is changing rules catering to QBs are we sure baseball is safer than football?

I kind of assumed this was tongue in cheek but even with the safer rules, we've seen a four QBs get knocked out for the season already - the Colt McCoy and Alex Smith with Washington, Bengals Andy Dalton and Jimmy Garrapolo (sp) in SF. (actually, it looks like two more QBs - Luke Falk and Brad Kaaya - are out for the season as well. I've never heard of either. And we'll see if Wenz joins them with his broken vertebra).

 

But I think the repeated physical trauma of being in the NFL, even for QBs, is more harmful than pitching (not that he's a pitcher anyway). 

[Mike Sixel]

if you are interested in legal articles:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/so-what-happens-if-kyler-murray-plays-football/

 

[Squirrel]

Which will he choose? Hmm ... maybe Bo knows ...

[Danchat]

The San Francisco Chronicle reports 2018 Heisman Trophy Winner and 2018 Oakland A's first-round draft pick Kyler Murray will enter the NFL draft.

 

In and of itself, entering the draft would not necessarily mean Murray was foregoing his baseball career, but A's beat writer Susan Slusser reports he would be expected to focus on football if he did so. Super agent Scott Boras had previously insisted that Murray planned to report to A's spring training next month. Now that appears to be up in the air. We will gain more information in the coming days. Were Murray to commit to football, he would have a shot at coming off the board on Day 1.

 

 

[Vanimal46]

Good for him. I think he can make a lot more money in the short term with football.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd be curious if he could two sport it. I've got to think that the A's were prepared for that possibility when they let him play football this season. Question is who would sign him and where he'd fall in the NFL draft should that be the condition... He would almost have to sit as a backup his first year given that he couldn't attend much training camp. 

 

Thinking about this for a second, but the Cardinals with their 1 overall pick and a coach that just last year said he'd take Murray with 1 overall might not be a bad fit. Rosen could run with it next year and could get traded if he looks reasonably competent. 

[old nurse]

For Murray it comes down to which sport do you think you can excel at. There are no givens in either sport. Baseball similarities would be Kenny Lofton. Very nice career. Football wise it gets tougher.  Brees and Wilson have done great.  The inch or 2 taller is not as concerning as the 20-30 pounds lighter. As there are rules to protect the QB in Murray's favor there is also the knowledge in the NFL that rules get broken. What round he gets picked in determines bonus money for football. He is projected first round right now, but you never know.

[Vanimal46]

If Murray is drafted high in the 1st round he's already making more than his MLB draft bonus. And if he does well in the NFL to get that coveted 2nd contract he's making more than he ever would in baseball.

 

In the past baseball was always thought of as the better option to have a longer career with guaranteed money. The way the sport is trending, where GMs want to generate the most value they can while players are on pre-arb contracts and cut them loose in FA, we can't say that anymore.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

If Murray is drafted high in the 1st round he's already making more than his MLB draft bonus. And if he does well in the NFL to get that coveted 2nd contract he's making more than he ever would in baseball.

In the past baseball was always thought of as the better option to have a longer career with guaranteed money. The way the sport is trending, where GMs want to generate the most value they can while players are on pre-arb contracts and cut them loose in FA, we can't say that anymore.

 

Murry is small for a QB standard, and even worse for a running QB. If he runs like that in the NFL, he won't make it to his second contract.

[Vanimal46]

Murry is small for a QB standard, and even worse for a running QB. If he runs like that in the NFL, he won't make it to his second contract.

Kyler Murray is listed at 5'11" 195 lbs. We'll see how accurate that is soon enough at the NFL combine.

 

Russell Wilson when he entered the draft: 5'11" 204 lbs.

 

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/russell-wilson?id=2532975

 

Russell has held up just fine over the years behind a horrendous OL for at least half of his career. And almost certainly has bulked up during his time in the league.

[old nurse]

 

Kyler Murray is listed at 5'11" 195 lbs. We'll see how accurate that is soon enough at the NFL combine.

Russell Wilson when he entered the draft: 5'11" 204 lbs.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/russell-wilson?id=2532975

Russell has held up just fine over the years behind a horrendous OL for at least half of his career. And almost certainly has bulked up during his time in the league.

At the end of the play Murray comes up to number 84, 6-2 212 pound wr Lee Morris.  I would douubt Murray is anywhere near the claim if the listed size of Morris is correct

https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/video/1338409539959

[diehardtwinsfan]

from what I've read... 5' 11" is generous for Murray... 

[Tuba]

There is a shortage of quality QBs in the NFL, only like 15-20 guys can do it. If he's too short, let him take HGH, this is a crisis.

[Danchat]

From what I've read, he's actually somewhere between 5' 9" to 5' 10". With his small size, I have concern for his durability and he might be just below the line of being too short for an NFL QB. I thought baseball might be a better idea for him, but with the weak upcoming QB class he could be taken high in the first round.

[Vanimal46]

 

Also...

 

[PseudoSABR]

 

Also...

It would be smart for the A's/MLB to acquiesce and allow him to play football, and hold onto his rights, while inviting him to spring training or as much competition his NFL team allows. 

 

I mean Wilson went to Spring Training a couple times, right? And Seattle must have been okay with it; maybe there's a way to work it out where he plays both, but defers to the NFL where there are conflicts.