It wasn't the money. He didn't make a decision until after the football season. The risk of injury in football wasn't a factor. Missing football isn't the issue.

If it sounds guarded, it isn't. It's just, well, it's just Jeff Samardzija.

Hours after it was announced that Samardzija had signed a five-year contract with the Chicago Cubs and that he would bypass a career in football-at least for any time in the foreseeable future-Samardzija was his typical understated, vague self.

"It just wasn't one final thing. There were a lot of things that went into the decision," said Samardzija, who ended his football career at Notre Dame as the school's all-time leading pass receiver following 77- and 78-reception seasons his junior and senior years.


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