Plaxico Burress blasts Nick Saban for hypocrisy
In 1999, Plaxico Burress was a star receiver with the Michigan State Spartans. His coach at the time, Nick Saban, was about to become one of the most famous and formidable names in college football. However, Burress does not harbor much love for his old coach.
On Wednesday, Burress responded to Saban’s notion that the NFL should push back the time period for when prospects are given draft grades, stating that it hurts the team’s ability to prepare for college playoff games, per ESPN.
"“You’re talking about a young person who has to deal with a lot now,” Saban, now Alabama’s coach, said. “We had six guys in this situation last year and 11 the year before. So we’re trying to get ready for a game, and then all of the sudden a guy finds out he’s a first-round draft pick or a guy that thought he was a first-round draft pick isn’t a first-round pick, and we’re trying to get ready to play a playoff game.“I think that it would be better not to submit that information to a player until he was finished competing in college. We’ve moved the draft back [from April to May]. We have not moved the date that a player has to declare back.”"
Burress was having none of that talk, and took to his Twitter account to blast Saban.
N Saban looked his players in the face at the Duf, said he wasnt leavin, I'm committed to the program" and was gone the next day. Tru story
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) July 15, 2015
Now Nick Saban players are being distracted by the NFL and chasing a dream, haha tell your story Nick. LSU showed you $$, you was GONE! Ha
— Plaxico Burress (@plaxicoburress) July 15, 2015
Burress has some clout here, because Saban reportedly made the same type of move after leaving LSU in 2005 to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Saban lasted only two forgettable seasons in Miami before bolting to join the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Frankly, Saban’s comments sound like sour grapes from a coach who was soundly beaten in the national semifinals by the Ohio State Buckeyes, head coach Urban Meyer and a third-string quarterback named Cardale Jones. Saban only had one player go in the first round last year in receiver Amari Cooper, and two in the second round with Landon Collins and T.J. Yeldon being plucked.