Doug Flutie to get shot as knuckleballer with Diamondbacks
Doug Flutie will be remembered as a great quarterback, but as a knuckleballer with the Arizona Diamondbacks? The former NFL Pro-Bowl quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College is going to get his shot.
MLB Network will be debuting a new program, “The Next Knuckler” on Feb. 13. The premise of the show is to have former Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield teach a bunch of former college and NFL quarterbacks how to throw a knuckleball. The quarterback who shows the most promise as a pitcher will get an invitation from the Arizona Diamondbacks to try out for the team at spring training this season, according to Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports.
The quarterbacks who will compete for the invitation are John David Booty; his brother, Josh Booty; Doug Flutie; David Greene and Ryan Perrilloux.
The Public Relations office for MLB also confirmed the news on Wednesday.
Doug Flutie & other former QBs will compete on @MLBNetwork's "The Next Knuckler" for invite to @Dbacks #SpringTraining—
MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) February 06, 2013
non-issue. There are a few teams that have done this, and the number of teams that offer a one-way MLB contract would be equal to zero. I'm guessing the winner get a AA contract and doesn't make it halfway through the season.
Josh Booty was a 1st round pick of the marlins, so I'll go ahead and take a gander that he wins.
In a related story, the NFL is developing a reality show where former major league baseball players are coached by Ray Lewis and the winner gets a shot at middle linebacker with the Ravens. I also heard that Dr. J is teaching former Kentucky Derby winning jockeys to dunk, and the winner will be a power forward for the Miami Heat.
@rkc I think you meant to say - the NFL is developing a reality show where former major league baseball players are coached by Ray Lewis and the winner gets shot.
This is a ridiculous, bush league stunt that is embarrassing and pointless. And what a lineup of QBs! Flutie is the only one with any name recognition for anyone but the hardest core football fan.
It would be a privilege to learn from Wakefield, one of the greatest knuckleballers of all-time.
Flutie could do it in a heartbeat. He's a very good baseball, football,basketball and hockey player. Notice I said IS, not WAS. Like Danny Ainge one of the best all-around athletes ever, but Flutie has kept it up non-stop.
@PeterHuston Ummm ok Peter. Doug Flutie was a good all around player in HS. HIGH SCHOOL! Danny Ainge played baseball and was drafted by the Blue Jays but his career was short lived (2 season where he had a batting avg at .220). I mean you could have said a bunch of people that had CAREERS in multi-sports like Bo, Deion or Brian Jordan ...This dude really said Danny Ainge is one of the BEST all-around athletes EVER!! LMFAO
@PeterHuston One of the best all-around athletes ever? You sure about that?
I can see Flutie pitching for a couple seasons. If he gets the mechanics down, why not? He may be 50, but he doesn't have the ware and tear of guys that have been pitching since little league.
@Dodgerguy R You can see Doug Flutie, age 50, pitching for a couple seasons in professional baseball? You are totally insane. You don't realize this is just a publicity stunt?
Don't laugh when the little feller wins the Cy Young.
Another retired athlete that just has to have that camera on him.
There's a better chance of getting hit by lightning or by winning the big lottery than any of these guys playing professional baseball. This is just a publicity stunt to bring some fun to the fans.
Nolan Ryan retired at 46 after 27 ML seasons. Flutie is 50 and has never played baseball at any pro level.
This is totally going to happen...
Lots of LSU alums in the show
I'd put my money on Flutie out of that group, he's a very good athlete and a SOLID baseball player.
Isn't Perrilloux still playing for the UIFA or some such, trying - yet - once again to get his career on tracK? He still 24 isnt he? This wouldn't seem to be very conducive even the football "comeback" is a long shot.
@skchai1 I guess it's PR so maybe the CFL can see him and think, wow, if he can do that maybe he can play in our league, hah hah. I'm kidding of course....
Interesting concept, but a completely misleading story title.
I'm sure THAT will pull in the ratings
Is his name really John David or are we all forced to say it because Brent Musberger enjoyed it SO much?
@Stiffler1414 I guess it was before Cheeseboiger discovered that some southern belles are really LOOKERS, ahah hah.
@Stiffler1414 His Dad's name is John, so they call him John David. I remember that from yet another Musberger creepshow. lol Also, I guess spending like 5 minutes on a roster qualifies as "former NFL quarterback."
Most desperate sounding show and story ever too.
this. is. AWESOME!
Most unexpected story ever.
@Staz agreed. thought it was a joke or some random guy also named Doug Flutie.