Murray: Decision on MLB or NFL 'very soon'

Former Oklahoma star and Oakland Athletics first-round pick Kyler Murray said Thursday that a decision on whether he will play professional baseball or football is coming "soon, very soon." Murray offered those comments while appearing on NFL Network's live set at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, but he declined to give any hints as to which way he's leaning.

"Right now I'm just working out," he said. "...I'm just taking it one day at a time." Murray also appeared on set with Pro Football Talk, where he indicated he hasn't made a firm, final decision. He also said that, in an ideal world, he'd choose both sports.

"This whole decision thing -- I wish I could play both," he told PFT. "That's just me personally. Obviously I know it's highly, highly, highly, highly unlikely. It's not an easy decision. I've been playing both my whole life since I was 4 years old." The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback declared for the NFL draft on Jan. 14, before the deadline for underclassmen, but he has not committed to either sport as the calendar turns to February and brings other deadlines closer. A's position players report for spring training Feb. 15, while the NFL combine is in late February.

Asked by NFL Network if he'd like to be the No. 1 pick in the draft, Murray replied, "Yeah, I would love to, in any -- if it was basketball, if it was soccer, whatever, yeah." Then Murray was asked what he enjoys more: throwing a touchdown pass or hitting a home run.

"You don't hit as many home runs as you throw touchdowns, so I'd have to go with hitting a home run," Murray said. "Because you got bragging rights on that pitcher. You did that. Nobody else helped you do that. ...Anybody who's played football and baseball would probably say hitting a home run." Murray signed a minor league deal including a $4.66 million signing bonus after being drafted ninth overall by the A's in June, but his stellar 2018 season as a quarterback at Oklahoma thrust him into contention to be a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

As it has become more apparent that Murray could choose football, the Athletics and Major League Baseball have worked to entice him to stay with baseball. The A's are reportedly willing to offer Murray a significant raise over his initial contract to get his commitment to baseball, and MLB sent a marketing executive with Oakland's contingent to meet with Murray in mid-January. Reports have said Murray would like a $15 million contract to choose baseball.

Murray was also asked by PFT on Thursday if he would consider waiting to choose a sport based on how high he is selected and by which team in the NFL "I don't know if that's possible," he said of the scenario.

--Field Level Media

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