Nick Saban Blames Miami Team Doctors for Costing Him Drew Brees and Ending His NFL Coaching Career
Source - Through the latter half of Nick Saban’s second season as head coach of the Dolphins, we heard repeatedly that he was miserable in the NFL and that he wanted to go back to the college game. On Tuesday, Saban revealed the moment at which he claims that he decided the NFL wasn’t for him.
In comments published by 247sports.com, Saban said decided to leave the Dolphins after the team chose not to sign quarterback Drew Brees.
“Look when the Miami Dolphins were going to sign Drew Brees, Drew was coming to Miami when I was the coach there,” Saban said. “He was going to be the quarterback. That’s all we needed. We just went 9-7 and all we needed was a quarterback to be a playoff team. We were going to sign Drew Brees as a free agent. Dr. [James] Andrews operated on [his shoulder] and I went to Birmingham to see Dr. Andrews, and he said it’ll be fine. Our doctors failed him on the physical. [Drew] was there to sign with us. . . .
“So I decided right then when that happened that we don’t have a quarterback in the NFL, we’re not going to win. I’m getting out of here. I’m not staying here. I’m not going to be responsible for this. That doctor didn’t know his ass from a handful of sand. Drew Brees plays 15 more years, wins a Super Bowl, goes to nine Pro Bowls. And we didn’t take him in Miami, where he wanted to go. Some things you can’t control. When we left there nobody understood why. Well that was why. There’s always a reason.”
Fricking Nick Saban. This is the very definition of power. The kind of luxury that is afforded only to the very best in his/her chosen field of endeavor. It's the power that says you can find a Fall Guy to absolve you of any and all blame. With or without their permission.
Kings get to choose subordinates to take the rap for them. Whether you're a president or the head of a corporation or a crime boss or a head coach. Saban is the emperor of all he surveys, while putting all the blame for his early exit from the NFL on some anonymous drones from the medical staff of the mid-2000s Dolphins. And saying that their incompetence changed the course of football history at the college and pro level. That is chutzpah.
Meanwhile, he's got a carpenter in his office building new shelf space for his current and future National Championship trophies, and has the job security of the Pope. While the guys he's fingering to take the fall are probably dodging personal injury lawyers somewhere or taping ankles and handing out painkillers at some D3 program.
And while I'm not at all impartial when it comes to Saban, I'd be lying if I said I don't admire the skill it takes to pull off such a deft maneuver. This is just part of what makes him the GOAT of all college coaches.
Hail Saban.