Tate signs with Padres

The Donavan Tate story was interesting while it lasted at North Carolina.

Tate, the No. 3 overall pick in the major league baseball draft in June, has signed with the San Diego Padres. He had reported to preseason camp as a freshman quarterback for the Tar Heels, but left after spending just a few days in Chapel Hill. 

The Associated Press reported that Tate's deal is worth $6.25 million and quoted Padres vice president of scouting and player development Grady Fuson as saying he knew all along that football was not where his heart was.

Was Tate using football as a bargaining chip? If that's the case, why would North Carolina coach Butch Davis allow him into camp?

That's an easy call. There's always a sliver of a chance a player will come to campus and develop a camaraderie with his teammates that will cause him to decide to join your team.

Better still, getting Tate into camp should provide at least a small benefit for North Carolina in recruiting. It reinforces Davis' reputation as a coach who is recruiting all kinds of high-profile athletes to the Tar Heels. If that got the attention of even one high-caliber recruit anywhere in the United States, the exercise was worthwhile for Davis and North Carolina.