Nick Saban’s Side Of The Story – Drew Brees ‘Didn’t Pass The Physical’

Nick Saban has had an extremely successful career coaching football at the collegiate level. With his Alabama Crimson Tide gearing up for a National Championship game against Notre Dame in Miami at Sun Life Stadium, Saban returns to the home field of the Miami Dolphins.

Nick's two years as head coach of the Dolphins didn't go well, and his biggest blooper was passing on Drew Brees in free agency, electing to go with Daunte Culpepper. Both players were coming off major injuries that ended their 2005 seasons prematurely.

Brees has his side of the story, claiming that he never really felt wanted by the Dolphins, and that Saban was impersonal and only wanted to run a countless number of medical tests on his shoulder. Brees feels as though the physical he was given by Miami was much more in depth than any physical normally given to an athlete.

Saban recently spoke on the decision, telling the Sun Sentinel the following:

“We thought Drew Brees was an outstanding player and that’s who we made the first offer to,” Saban said. “Quite frankly, you know, he didn’t pass the physical with our organization so we had to go in another direction and there was nothing any of us could do about that.”

Saban addresses several controversies during his time as Dolphins coach

Brees was never actually given a formal offer to sign with Miami. He ended up signing with New Orleans, bringing the Saints to their first ever NFC Championship appearance. Three years later he helped the Saints win the Super Bowl.

Culpepper went back on injured reserve in the 2006, and Miami went 6-10. Saban continuously said he had no interest in the Alabama head coaching job. He was hired in Tuscaloosa a week after the Dolphins season ended.

Saban went on to address other rumors in the Sun Sentinel piece, including accusations of player mistreatment. Most notably, stepping over a convulsing player (Jeno James) on the floor, walking to his office, and showing no concern for James' well being. Click here to see the entire article.