Tebow gave QB Murray advice about pro decision

Deciding between an NFL or MLB career might have been difficult, but Kyler Murray found one pro athlete with a common bond, as well as a Heisman Trophy, who could give him some major league advice. Tim Tebow, the former NFL quarterback who is a college football analyst for ESPN and baseball minor league outfielder, interviewed Murray during the football season.

"Kyler, I think he's a really good young man, and I think this was a really tough decision for him," Tebow told reporters Saturday after arriving at the New York Mets' spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla. "He loves two sports, and I can really relate to that. And he went with something that he's been really good at lately and dominating in. "When we talked about it, and we did talk about that, I just gave him the advice to follow your heart. Whatever you're passionate about. Don't do it for your agents or your friends, and sometimes necessarily not even your family."

Tebow, who won his Heisman at Florida, knows the struggles involved in choosing between two sports. Before finishing his junior season at Oklahoma, Murray agreed to a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics that included a $4.66 million signing bonus. But on Monday he announced on social media that he was switching his allegiance to the NFL.

Murray stated: "Moving forward, I am firmly and fully committing my life to being an NFL quarterback. Football has been my love and my passion my entire life. I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships." According to published reports, Murray will return $1.29 million of the $1.5 million he received last year after the A's made him the No. 9 overall pick in last June's MLB draft. He forfeits the remaining $3.16 million due March 1. Also an outfielder, he was invited to spring training by the A's.

Despite his lack of size (5-foot-10, 195 pounds), Murray is expected by numerous pundits to go in the first round of the NFL draft, which begins April 25. At Oklahoma, Murray guided the Sooners to a 12-2 record, an appearance in the College Football Playoff and a No. 4 final ranking. The redshirt junior passed for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and rushed for 1,001 yards and 12 scores. He led the nation in total yards, points responsible for, yards per pass attempt and yards per completion.

Aside from the Heisman, Murray's lengthy list of honors include the Manning Award, Davey O'Brien Award, AP Player of the Year, USA Today Player of the Year and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. "Do it for what's on your heart, and don't let other people define you," Tebow said he told Murray. "You're going to have all these coaches that you look up to and everybody else that's going to tell you what they think, but what's most important is following your heart and your passion. Hopefully, he did that."

--Field Level Media