How many QBs over the years have been crippled? Where is this gigantic risk in playing QB that would put his baseball future at risk? He's a competitive kid who loves football. I'll be surprised if he doesn't give it a go because he'd probably win the goddam job.
Not sure I agree with your logic. It's not about being crippled or legs at all, for that matter. Shoulder injuries are relatively common for QBs. Just getting hit and driven into the ground, you can separate a shoulder. Shoulder injuries are very bad for baseball. Q.E.D.
This dude's game is hitting the baseball a LONG way. He's not a pitcher. He's a glorified DH at this point. Pretty sure he's playing 1st base, which requires an arm about equal to that possessed by a premature baby. I don't think this dude lives scared, so I expect him to play some football.
I'm not predicting he'll quit on FB, but a serious shoulder injury is bad for bat swinging, not only pitching. You are correct he's moved to 1B, I believe. I just don't know that he should risk a pretty terrific future in baseball to try FB, particularly because I doubt he's got a pro future in football at his size. But if he wants to, I'm all for cheering him on.
You're all about debate, so let me ax you a question: Of the thousands of QBs you've watched play in the modern era, how many have suffered shoulder injuries that have ended their ability to throw a football (which is harder on the shoulder than throwing a baseball)? I can't remember any, and I've seen them all over the last 25 years. If QBs are not getting injured enough to stop them from throwing the football at a high level, then I doubt there's any real legit reason to think Thompson would hurt his shoulder enough to hinder him from making the ***gy throws a first baseman has to make.
Gotta look at the available data to determine if the fear is legit or baseless, and it looks pretty baseless in this instance. The easy reaction is: Oh no. He can't play football. He'll get hurt and ruin his baseball career. The real analysis is: There is nothing to support the idea that he'll sustain an injury that will in any way stop him from succeeding at baseball. ****, the dude just had shoulder surgery a few months ago and is murdering it already.
