A former NFL star took some heavy shots at college football legend Nick Saban this week, saying that he retired because he can no longer compete in the modern NIL era in college football. Chad Ochocinco did not hold back on his thoughts about the legendary coach and saying he retired because he no longer can compete in the new era of the sport.
Former NFL Star Chad Ochocinco Takes Shots At Nick Saban
On the most recent episode of Nightcap, which features former NFL stars Chad Ochocinco and Shannon Sharpe, Chad made the case that Saban retired because he can no longer compete for the top recruits the way that he used to. This is partially correct as Saban said himself that players don’t really care about the game anymore and only care about the money. Players can just leave the team at any moment for more money.
With the new NIL era many colleges can pay players more than Alabama, and that creates a lot of struggle to bring in the top players. Ochocinco said that he thinks Saban is one of the greatest to ever do it but that he simply “can’t compete” anymore when players just want more and more money.
“He can’t compete. It events the playing field now that NIL has come into play. There was NIL before but nobody talked about it… Where did everybody wanna go play? Everyone wanna go play at Alabama…” Johnson said.
College Football Is All About The Money Now
While Ochocinco is attacking the legendary coach he may not be wrong. It is not so much that Saban can’t compete but rather may not want to as the money has been destroying the way teams work. Sharpe chimed in as well commenting on how the players just want so much money.
“What comes into play now? For me, Coach Saban, I believe in your coaching. I believe in your system. I believe in your players. Don’t walk away from the game now that the playing field is even. Don’t do that. Why do that?” Johnson finished.
Saban walks away from the game as the most decorated coach to ever do it and if he does not want to adapt to the new NIL era that is his decision. Saban started coaching in a very different era, and while these college stars deserve to be paid, the way that it goes down in reality has destroyed the college football product. Saban may just feel that the work he puts in every year is too much for players that do not really care about the game anymore.
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