I really can’t see him at the NFL level for the reasons Deb enumerates.

The fun thing about this national championship is that the SEC can truly be united for once. I’d root for pretty much any school in the country over Notre Dame LOL

Yes, I’d be sad to see Nick go. But like you, I’d understand why he’d want to take a shot at the pros. Much as I love Bama, I love the NFL more. But that’s a hard, hard game–getting harder the way Goodell runs it. At his age, I don’t think I’d want to go that route again. No matter how much control you have in the league, too many things are still out of your control. You just can’t run pro players the way you can college guys. Recruiting is a real art, and it’s the one thing Nick does best. Something to be said for being the best at what you do.

Don’t get mad you know you would hell I still do it with the mad hatter and hes not a bad coach, I just wish he could get our team ready to play on a regular basis.

Down for florida up for bama down for aubie semi up for SC crappy school well down, and finally arkansas is always a squeeker.

either way should be an interesting college off season. Good luck to ya in the NC and I truly hope that yeldon and lacy each get 200 yds rushing and te’o trows the towel in sometime around the mid way through the 3rd.

You’re a Steelers fan? I’m a lifelong Bama fan and have been a diehard Steelers fan nearly that long–35 years. Of course, I want to see Saban retire at Bama. For the most part, I think it would be a mistake to trade being the best coach in the NCAA to gamble on the pro game again. That is such a hit-and-miss proposition, and I wasn’t impressed with his work in Miami. But a part of me is curious to see what he’d do if he gave it another shot. Cleveland might be a good fit, but I’d hate not being free to truly wish him all the best

Phillip Rivers is like this generation’s Dan Marino–so much talent wasted on a mediocre team. I’d love to see him get a real opportunity while there’s still some time on his career clock.

HOWEVER, there exists the ability to get that FRANCHISE QB this off-season.

Now before you blow me off as a crazy read completely through my arguments.

PHILIP RIVERS.

This guy has probably the only offensive line in the league worse than Tony Romo’s and only slightly better than Arizona’s.

His WR’s are a joke. Floyd has all the chances in the world to step up and be a Number one yet ahs failed time and time again.

Don’t even get me started on the joke of a running back that is ryan freaking matthews.

Now flop Rivers to the browns.

Better OLine
Better WR’s who are young and proving themselves with a Struggling and yet not as bad as many would have thought in Rookie QB.
The Offensive line is better than what he has had in San Diego.
Trent Richardson is playing at a level slightly below LT during his last 2 years in San Diego. Those also happened to be some of the better years for Rivers.

So what would it take to get rivers to Cleveland?
Well, the going rate at this point is 2 first round picks. That’s what Oakland, paid to get carson Palmer and he had not played that year. If you take into account that rivers has played so badly, but is still a starting QB min. 2 first rounders with other picks/players.

As a steeler fan I would hate to see this happen, but for Cleveland fans this could be a wet dream.

regardless of what happens I do hope the DAWG POUND becomes relevant again. That was always one of my favorite things on sundays. Watching a steeler/browns game in the snow with those fans wearing bulldog masks was a true treat all football fans should want to see make a come back.

Word of advice to browns fans, do not become raging boners like the saints fans. They are intolerable to deal with now that they have had a very small taste of success.

He was going from one level to the next, in a pretty much a dream spot.

Sure miami hasn’t won on a regular basis in forever but it beats the hell out of coaching in the frozen wasteland that is Buffalo. Hell I hear elk don’t even like it in Buffalo.

Since I first read this article I have thought about some of the other coaching vacancies that will open up in the off season and have put odds on Saban actually going there.

Here we go:
Philly – 100-1, No Offensive Line, No/Young QB does not fit his style. Hes a Defensive guy so he needs those things in place so he can spend his time building the Defense up. Being a DB coach could help those gutless wonders currently playing in Philly.

Dallas-20-1, This would be for pure ego. want to be considered on of the best of all times, you move up the ladder just by winning in Dallas. Whether right or wrong that’s how things work with “Americas Team”. If you can win in Dallas, On that stage with that a^%hole running things you will certainly be looked upon highly. Chances are Romo is out after this year. No QB no chance of winning.

San Diego 150-1, Offense is a hot mess. Best bet trade rivers get a butt load of picks start rebuilding. Pros are well hey it is San Diego.

Buffalo – 1000-1, people in Buffalo dont want to be in buffalo.

Tennessee – 30-1 Munchack may last one more year but if he is out what do they have nothing. Add into the mix he will have to face Luck and Schuab and well he aint going to go there.

Other coaching spots soon to be open are:

Arizona – who the hell wants that job, NO O-Line, QB’s who couldn’t start tomorrow for Vanderbelt, and an RB situtaion almost as bad as the QB spot and well someone will get the job as a first timer.

Kansas City – Crennell will get another year, and this team is not bad if it had… You guessed it a decent QB

That leaves me to believe that Cleveland is the most likely spot for him to land in the NFL next year if he opts to make the jump again.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

I was censored from saying this on PFT–as I’m censored from saying most things that actually relate to football–but it blows my mind how many people on the Chargers’ threads are clamoring for Chip Kelly. Norv Turner is a brilliant offensive mind–and look how far that has gotten them. Yet now they want another guy who is all offense and no defense. Yeah … that makes perfect sense LOL

My only concern right now is that Saban keep the team focused for the national title game. That’s the current priority. After the season is over, he’s free to leave Bama … with my thanks. It’s been a great ride! I would love to wish him all the best if he returns to the NFL, but as a Steelers fan, I’m afraid I can’t do that if his destination is the Browns. A rivalry is a rivalry. I’d like to see the Browns be competitive again–but not with us The best I could wish him is second place in the division. But I would happily wish him that.

Hey, John … I’ll bet you are crossing your fingers this rumor is true

Very well put! I agree with most everything you said. The real difference maker in the NFL is QB play. If you have a good one, the coach is good. If you have a great one, the coach wins awards! Cleveland has a great RB, that knows Saban. They have made vast improvements on both sides of the ball. The only key in the cog that is missing, is a great QB. I don’t see one coming up on free agency, or out of the college ranks. AJ McCarron is good, but, not great. I don’t believe he has the stuff to start next year. But, Russel Wilson didn’t look too promising, either. The difference between SEC football and the NFL is vast…..talent wise. However, the style of ofgense and defense, is very similar. Lord Saban could transition very easily, with a great QB!

Now on to Saban,

Ok here’s my thought process on why this could happen.

1. Saban has 3 and possibly 4 BCS titles by the end of January. He has won all of these titles in the SEC the toughest conference in America, at two different schools that he rebuilt.

2. Coaches at any level are ego-maniacs. They believe they are god’s gift. Go back to lombardi, Parcells, Belicheat, hell even cowher was an ass. This means they want to prove themselves at the highest level. There is no higher level than the NFL.

4 Years ago after the Petrino and Saban himself “failed” at the pro level, there was a lot of talk about forgoing the college coaches all together. Then along comes Jim Harabaugh, Schiano and pete carroll, the nfl is going to take a second look.
Admit it everyone thought Ole petes schtick would not work in the NFL, well it has.

5. It has been said earlier in the responses that Saban is one doctors opinion away from fundamentally changing 2 franchises. The hottest prospect in the free agent market in 2006 was Drew Brees. Brees wanted to go to Miami but since he couldn’t pass the medical the dolphins instead signed Culpepper who was coming off of a really bad injury.

6. After culpepper was placed on IR in week 4 of the 2006, the dolphins went to one of two QB’s, Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon. Neither of these QB’s is ever going to be mistaken for an NFL QB. No QB means you don’t win in the NFL, time honored truth.

7. 2005 and 2006 were smack dab in the middle of the patriots reign as the greatest nfl franchise ever of all time period.

Now why it could work this time around:

1. The browns are already a talented team on both the back end of the defense and offense. They could use a long term QB, but so could a lot of teams. Their Offensive line is not all that bad and better than a lot of teams out there.

2. They have a nice #2 wr in Josh Gordon, so a #1 is in the mix. A speed rusher is needed but they can get one of the three studs coming out of the SEC this year and fix that problem. Those would be Jones from Georgia, Mingo and Montegomery from LSU.

Just my $1.50

Bender is just looking for anything that might be able to derail this train known as Ala-freaking-bama, at full steam heading down the BCS track towards Miami, while that beat-up broken down POS volkswagen known as Nuetered Lame is sitting at a RxR crossing! It’s all speculation, right now. But, if he knew ANYTHING about Lord Saban, he would know that unlike Brian Kelly, Nick Saban will stay until HIS job is finished! After he makes his statement for that camel (Lou Holtz), he very well may leave. Until then…..it’s Roll Tide from Nick Saban. But, I believe if he left tomorrow, Kirby Smart would lead us to victory over the 75th ranked scoring offense! Unlike the coach on the ither side line, our coaches have big game experience!

As for Cleveland, who knows? I can see how Saban might be picking at that scab of NFL “failure,” but I can also see how he could’ve become addicted to a level of control and authority he’s likely never had before. Never mind the giddy worship the man enjoys in T-Town and other Bama environs. If that changes, he might be more open to trying the NFL thingy again. Personally, I can’t imagine how a confirmed control freak with a ginormous ego and an emperor complex could even consider the meddlesome, back-stabbing, bureaucratic cluster**** that is the NFL. But time will tell.

I think if he wanted to be back in Ohio, he would be there now.

The NFL culture is totally different than in college. For one thing, the coach isn’t God and I don’t think he could stand having a boss and prima donna players that don’t answer to him.

I hope he stays and continues to PO people. It’s good to remind them they aren’t that darned important.

But…

If Saban were to leave Alabama and go to Cleveland it wouldn’t make sense to many of you and I can see why. You are not only leaving a nice place for a (I can’t say it), but you are leaving a community that now has a winning mentality and spirit for a place that see’s itself as a depressed, downtrodden, loser culture. One of the reasons why the city of Cleveland hasn’t won a championship since 1964 is because the community no longer really has any idea what it is to feel like a winner — like a champion.

Saban knows this.

Saban was there when the city and the Browns hit their absolute lowest point. And, there have been many extreme lows.

Saban is also from Ohio.

You talk about his ego. Whether we describe it as ego, drive, confidence, or the desire to do what no other can do, well that is up for debate. But,

Saban knows that lifting the Lombardi trophy as a member of the Cleveland Browns would be something that transcends sports. Most of you don’t understand. I suspect he does. He has lived the fact. I also suspect he doesn’t know if he could do it for sure. He would have to lead more than just the football team. The Brown’s might be his forbidden frontier. If he could win a super bowl there, he knows what that would mean among his peers, the City of Cleveland, and his place in football history.

I think those of you who talked about his ego are right. A supreme confidence and ego are the only things that would cause him to leave Alabama and take the Brown’s job.

You decided to ignore the posters comments concerning “control”

With Saban, I am sure they are right. Control (all letters probably should be caps) is going to be a major issue if he ever decides to bolt to the NFL.

Dallas? I’m sure Jer would love Nick coming there. The thought of putting Saban’s face on the belt he has along with Landry, Johnson, and Parcells would give him an ego boost that only a superbowl could top. And we all know he’s not winning one of those anytime soon. If Jer could add Saban to the list, it would be another coaching legend he could fire and try to feel superior to.

Leprachaun….why would anyone love/like Brian Kelly? He screwed those kids at Central Michigan just before their Bowl Game. He left them high and dry, before the biggest game in their history, for Cincinnati. He left Cincinnati for Nuetered Lame, just before their thrashing against UF, in the only BCS Bowl Game in that schools history. How could anyone believe this yahoo, when he sits down in a living room, and says anything?

If everyone that knows me, were certain that I hate when people blow smoke in my face, yet insisted on doing it….why would they be shocked when I voice my displeasure?

Regardless of what happens with Lord Saban and the Browns, Bama will crush the Iwish in the BCS.

He’s always a jerk to the sports reporters who’s job is to ask him questions and he talks to them like children.

He’s a jerk in press conferences. He NEVER seems at all happy. Even when holding the crystal football he has this look of dissatisfaction.

His personality is comparable to a turnip.

Nothing about him personally is appealing to hardly anyone.”

^LOL. Gee, good thing Saban works in a results-oriented business, and isn’t a contestant on a reality TV dating show. Do some people prefer 7-win seasons with a coach who asks reporters how their day is going?

If he were to come back to the NFL, I think it would be for a job like Dallas or something. High profile and an owner willing to give whatever he wants dollars wise and personnel wise.

Don’t believe a word of what she says. She’s married to a liar. What makes anyone think she hasn’t mastered the art herself? If she has SO much influence on her husband doesn’t that mean she was also implicit in and approved of the FIRST lie?

uhhhh YEAH!