Sports
If Nick Saban wants to help NIL and college football, he should be realistic about it
Nick Saban has been an excellent addition to ESPN’s “College GameDay,” adding deep and digestible film analysis, well-prepared insight on teams around the country and a sense of humor that may surprise some — culminating in Saturday’s back and forth with the show’s “celebrity guest picker” from Tuscaloosa, his wife, Terry.
But he has a lot of work to do on what’s actually happening with the economics of college football, which is disappointing because he should be an important voice on player compensation and movement. On Saturday he was a disingenuous voice, painting a picture of the past that insults the intelligence of anyone who follows the sport and pining for a future that would amount to going backward.
The panel got into a discussion of the big story of the past week, UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka’s announcement that he’s done for the season because promised financial obligations weren’t met. Sluka’s agent told ESPN he was “verbally promised” at least $100,000 and Sluka’s father, Bob, told The Athletic’s David Ubben that the negotiation happened in February — and that the family didn’t ask for more during UNLV’s 3-0 start to become a College Football Playoff contender.
That’s been disputed, and absolute truth on this story is unlikely. “College GameDay” host Rece Davis said, appropriately, of the situation: “If the promise was made, let’s not let (whoever made it) off the hook either. That’s despicable, that’s sleazy, to try to get a kid like that.”
Saban, unfortunately, was eager to interject.
“But at the end of the day, what kind of value did that young man create for himself by making this decision?” Saban said. “Being put in this situation and then making this decision. What kind of real value does he create for his future by doing this? And that’s the unfortunate thing about all this.”
“Yeah, chasing short-term money, affecting their future,” Kirk Herbstreit added.
So let’s try to answer that question, regardless of what exactly happened with Sluka and UNLV. If he were promised this money and didn’t get it, he wasn’t trying to “create value” for himself — he was understandably frustrated about being wronged despite demonstrating value. If his camp is lying about the promise, that’s obviously wrong of them — but if he’s received just $3,000 for his work at UNLV, which has not been disputed, that’s ridiculous and unacceptable in today’s market.
The market is hazy, sure, but we know enough about it to know that a quarterback of Sluka’s quality joining an FBS program — which has millions of dollars at stake as a viable candidate for the 12-team Playoff — should have five figures in the bank before he completes a pass.
So if I’m hearing correctly, pay for play started with NIL. Per the former Alabama coach who had a lot of amazing players over the years who were all fine with tuition, room, board, books, etc.
— Joe Rexrode (@joerexrode) September 28, 2024
The answer to Saban’s question is that Sluka has already created value, by graduating from Holy Cross, by starring there and earning an opportunity to play at a higher level, and then by excelling at that level. This means he should and will have another college opportunity next season, and he should be paid market value for it.
It’s almost as if Saban thinks everyone is an NFL prospect — Sluka likely isn’t — or as if having millions of dollars makes it difficult to understand what $100,000 can do for the life of a young person who is not destined for millions.
It’s disappointing. Because Saban should offer a lot of value to this discussion and has made other points that resonate.
He has said he retired from coaching in part because the discussion from his players after last season ended in the CFB semifinals was all about money, and I believe him. He’s right that there can be a benefit to sticking out tough times when things don’t go well early for a player. He’s right about the high value of having a university and program as a home base, with enduring connections, long after playing.
He would have been better off Saturday talking about locker-room dynamics in this era, as opposed to advocating for a future with a combination of revenue sharing — which is, of course, court-mandated and inevitable — and a “true NIL” based solely on marketing opportunities.
This remains an apparent NCAA fantasy as well, though the richest programs in college football will continue to pursue the best players so they can win and profit as a result. Which will always create a market beyond obligatory compensation. Which isn’t new.
It’s just that a lot more money is going to players, in tandem with constant player movement, which means some form of players organizing and signing standardized contracts must come next. There will be unintended consequences as with any major change, but it’s necessary and inevitable. I’d like Saban to embrace that reality and talk about how that will affect his previous profession.
Instead, he said this: “We’ve turned it into pay for play, because we have donor-raised funds to be able to pay people. So that system does not create value long-term for players. I mean you’re supposed to go to college to create value for your future. Now we have guys making decisions about how much money they’re gonna make. Which I’m not sure that’s what we want the college experience to be.”
Did he seriously suggest that just now we’re getting to “donor-raised funds to be able to pay people?” Is he seriously claiming such funds weren’t pooled in the past, by the very richest programs, to pay the very best prospects to help those programs win and profit? After decades of thinly disguised — and in some cases reported and NCAA-punished — bidding wars for some of those players leading up to signing days, is he really saying that just now guys are making decisions based on money?
Anyone who cares about college football should be insulted by that. Just as I’m sure Saban was when he saw the guy who helped run his Alabama recruiting operation from 2007-09, Jeremy Pruitt, cheat in such a brazen, sloppy way at Tennessee that his coaching career evaporated over it in 2021.
No one really cares about that stuff anymore, now that we’ve taken the amateurism mask off college football. Also, no one is expecting coaches to start writing tell-all books about where the bags of cash were hidden.
But we can have more honest, less disingenuous, conversations about the past, present and future. Saban talks about “value” a lot, and he knows it well — Forbes estimated he made $150 million in his coaching career. He shouldn’t devalue what a free market can and must mean to the labor force of an industry like college football.
And he should whisper one of the all-time great Saban-isms — “Don’t waste a failure” — to himself before he tackles this topic in front of millions of viewers again.
(Photo: Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Sports
Snoop Dogg hilariously keeps pace with furious Steve Kerr’s ejection-producing rant
In a warm-up for his role in the upcoming Winter Olympics, Snoop Dogg was given a microphone during the second half of the NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Clippers on Monday night at the Intuit Dome.
Can’t wait for those Olympics! Snoop hilariously sizzled when Warriors coach Steve Kerr stormed the court in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 103-102 victory.
“The Arizona Wildcat done came out of him. Look at him!” Snoop said, alluding to Kerr’s college team. “Aw, Rawwwr, rawwwr, rawwwr!”
Kerr was hit with two technical fouls in less than a minute. He nearly got one with 8:44 to play when Warriors guard Stephen Curry made a shot that appeared to be a continuation after a foul, but the officials nullified the basket.
Less than a minute later, Kerr found a new level of vehemence after the Clippers’ John Collins wasn’t called for goaltending on a shot by Gary Payton II. The four-time NBA championship coach flew into a rage, aggressively gesturing at officials and screaming.
Kerr picked up the two technicals — his first in nearly four seasons — and was held back by Payton and assistant coaches before exiting to the locker room.
Snoop Dogg, who had joined regular Peacock/NBC announcers Reggie Miller and Terry Gannon for the second half, rose to the occasion, his commentary keeping pace with Kerr’s antics.
“Oh, Steve gonna get thrown out! Get him out of there. Get him out of there! Back him up!” Snoop barked.
All Miller and Gannon could do was laugh as Snoop continued, referencing the location of the Intuit Dome and Kerr’s Southern California ties: “Steve back in Inglewood right now. Inglewooood!!! Get him, Steve! You in Inglewood, Steve!”
Snoop will join NBC Olympics host Mike Tirico in Italy in February, riffing on stories that unfold at the Winter Games the way he did at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The NBA game was an indication he’ll again be up to the task.
“We are excited to have Snoop bring his unique energy and passion to our NBA coverage,” NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood said in a statement. “It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch Snoop, Reggie and Terry talk hoops with a side order of fun.”
Snoop said in the release that his debut as an NBA game broadcaster “is a dream come true for me. I can’t wait to bring a fresh vibe to the analysis.”
For the record, official Brian Forte acknowledged after the game that goaltending should have been called against Collins. Curry told reporters that he appreciated his coach’s passion.
“Two crazy calls in a row that you feel like can dictate the momentum of the game, it doesn’t mean a win or a loss, it just dictates the momentum,” Curry said. “I love that fired up Steve, for sure. Somebody had to do it.”
Visiting Los Angeles has been emotional for Kerr since the Pacific Palisades wildfire a year ago destroyed his childhood home, which his family bought in 1969. His mother, 90-year-old Ann Kerr, still lived in the house, located near Rivas Canyon, and was evacuated safely.
Sports
Russell Wilson not thinking about retirement, plans to play in 2026: ‘I know what I’m capable of’
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Russell Wilson went from starting quarterback of the New York Giants to third string just a few weeks into the 2025 season, leaving many to question if the 10-time Pro Bowler decides to play next season.
Wilson, 37, doesn’t sound like he’s mulling over his decision. He wants to play in 2026.
“I’m not blinking,” Wilson said, per SNY. “I know [what] I’m capable of. I think I showed that in Dallas, and I want to be able to do that again, you know, and just be ready to rock and roll, and be as healthy as possible and be ready to play ball.”
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New York Giants’ Russell Wilson attempts to escape a sack by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)
Wilson signed a one-year, veteran minimum deal with the Giants this past offseason worth $10.5 million, which had tons of incentives if he were to play the entire season.
That same offseason, the Giants traded back into the first round to select Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss, and he proved during training camp to have NFL-ready chops under center.
GIANTS STICK WITH GM JOE SCHOEN DESPITE ANOTHER LOSING SEASON, CITING NEED FOR ‘CONTINUITY AND STABILITY’
Still, then-head coach Brian Daboll was steadfast in his decision to start Wilson despite Dart’s success. But, after just three games, where the Giants went 0-3, a change was made.
Daboll went with Dart in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers at home, and the rookie defeated Justin Herbert and company to not only get his first career win, but cement himself as the team’s starter moving forward.
Even then, Wilson remained positive, saying in interviews after practice that he understands the direction of the team and wanted to help Dart develop and grow in his new role.
New York Giants’ Russell Wilson, left, and Jaxson Dart, right, talk on the bench in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo)
In his three starts for the Giants, Wilson threw for 831 yards with three touchdowns to three interceptions, though all of those touchdowns came in a Week 2 overtime heartbreaker for New York. Over half of Wilson’s passing yards also came in that game, throwing for 450 in the 40-37 loss.
Wilson also said that he tore his hamstring during that game against the Cowboys.
“I played that game, you know, I tore my hamstring on Friday in practice – the last play of practice. And I had a Grade 2 (tear). I couldn’t tell anybody. I had to go and play on it just because I knew the circumstance, I had to play on it, no matter what,” Wilson explained.
“I actually ended up going to the Dallas Mavericks’ facility, training. And you know, just kept it quiet, just trying to get treatment on it and just knowing that I probably couldn’t run from the goal line to the 10-yard line if I wanted to, but I feel like… I got to play this game.”
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scans the field at the line against the New York Jets during the first half at MetLife Stadium. (Rich Barnes/Imagn Images)
It will be interesting to see if Wilson will land anywhere, and better yet, if a team is willing to try him out as a starter again.
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Sports
Can Ravens’ Tyler Loop rebound from missed kick better than Scott Norwood or Mike Vanderjagt?
Those who snub Father Time like to say that 50 is the new 30. A different Father — Benedictine priest Maximilian Maxwell— sprinkled holy water in the end zone before his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday with the AFC North title on the line.
Fifty is the new 30 also applies to field goals. More than 70% of kicks over 50 yards are successful these days, a dramatic increase in accuracy from only five years ago. Excuse Maxwell for thinking divine intervention might be necessary should a last-second missed kick determine the outcome.
A 44-yarder is a chip shot for most NFL kickers, including Ravens rookie Tyler Loop, who had made 90% of his attempts — including eight of eight from 40-49 yards — when the ball was snapped with three seconds to play and Baltimore trailing 26-24.
Two words coined when Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard attempt that cost the Buffalo Bills Super Bowl XXV in 1991 once again were screamed on a television broadcast: “Wide right!”
Another memorable miss came from a kicker regarded as the best in the NFL 20-some years ago. Brash, outspoken Mike Vanderjagt of the Indianapolis Colts led the league in scoring in 1999 and four years later became the first kicker in history to make every kick in a full season: 83 of 83 on field goals and extra points.
Yet he botched a boot with 21 seconds to play during a playoff game in 2006, enabling the Steelers to upset the Colts. Pittsburgh went on to win the Super Bowl and Vanderjagt was replaced by Adam Vinatieri. He never regained his form.
Here’s hoping Loop rebounds better than Vanderjagt or Norwood, who was released a year after the historic miss and never played again. Loop was All Pac-12 in 2023 at Arizona, where he holds records for longest field goal (62 yards) and success rate (83.75%). He was the Wildcats’ GOAT before becoming the Ravens’ goat.
Loop, 24, didn’t duck the media, leaving the impression that he won’t let this failure define him.
“Just want to say I’m super grateful to Baltimore, the organization and the city, just how they embraced me this year has been incredible,” he said. “Just for it to end like that, sucks, and I want to do better.
“Unfortunately, the nature of the job is you have makes, and those are awesome, and unfortunately, you have misses, and for that to happen tonight sucks.”
The specialized nature of kickers can place them on the periphery of team bonding, but Loop’s teammates and coaches were supportive in the aftermath of the season-ending loss.
Coach John Harbaugh walked alongside Loop from the field to the locker room, with his arm around his back comforting him. Quarterback Lamar Jackson downplayed the impact, telling reporters, “He’s a rookie, you know. It’s all good. Just leave it in the past.”
Only time will tell whether Loop can do just that.
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