Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Posted by Mike Florio on December 17, 2012, 8:03 PM EST

Reuters
In what could be viewed as Alabama coach Nick Saban’s first toe in the water toward no longer being the Alabama coach, Saban has disclosed for the first time publicly that he picked quarterback Drew Brees over quarterback Daunte Culpepper in 2006.

“We chose Drew Brees,” Saban told Dan Le Batard of 790 The Ticket in Miami. “I’ve never ever talked about this publicly. . . . That’s the guy we made the first offer to.”

Saban said that Brees failed the physical after Brees and the Dolphins had agreed to terms. Brees had suffered a shoulder injury during the final game of the 2005 regular season.

Instead, the Dolphins sent a second-round pick to the Vikings for quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who had torn his ACL, MCL, and PCL during an October 2005 game against the Panthers.

Since Saban never does anything without a plan, the plan could be to clean the slate on the perception that he picked Culpepper over Brees, shifting the blame to the doctors and in turning clearing a path for NFL teams that may have lingering concerns regarding his perceived preference for Culpepper over Brees to chase Saban.

Though Saban may have no current interest in returning to the NFL, there’s nothing wrong with being chased. At a minimum, having suitors at the NFL level could get the folks in Tuscaloosa to pony up more cash in order to avoid losing him.

Indeed, as pointed out by our brethren at CFT, Saban made it sound like he won’t be leaving Alabama for the NFL.

You know, sort of like when he made it sound like he won’t be leaving the NFL for Alabama.

Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper | ProFootballTalk



I am kinda taken back by this a little bit. Didn't Brees say he choose us because the Dolphins didn't want him? Sounds more like he settled for us to me JMO.

All that talk about wanting to come here and make a difference after the devestation kinda looses something to me after reading this. Am I thinking to much of this?

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

How could Brees fail a physical for the Dolphins, and then pass one for the Saints?

I think that the Dolphins wanted Culpepper from the start because of Brees' injury but also because Culpepper is taller.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

I've heard Brees talk about it several times and he's always a bit cryptic about who was offered what and how he made his decision. Given what I've heard, Saben's explanation sounds plausible. Miami gives the go-ahead, doctors say he isn't ready, and Drew concludes the Dolphins don't want him and that becomes where he wants to be.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

drew brees could'nt take a physical at that time much less pass any. saints wanted him regardless before physical. they took drews word that he could play 15 more years. saban could be right that drew flunked because he could not take one at the moment, he were still healing. the FO wanted culpepper.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Saban is a jerk... ask any LSU fan.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...9spZF1rYTGjS4w

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

a jack jerk that likes to start chit

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

True !

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

I do remember the story involving a failed physical with the Dolphins before Brees even met with the representatives of the Saints', so this "news" doesn't affect the way I feel about Brees signing with the Saints one bit.

Of course Drew failed a physical. That was known before the visit. Dr Andrews himself would not give him clearance at that point. Culpepper also would not have been 100%. So a decision had to be made. And Saban had full control to make the decision he did

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

I can understand their position on it though, really. Would you rather take a QB with an injured knee (Culpepper) or a throwing shoulder (Brees). I am pretty sure which path most of us would have taken.

20/20 hindsight is 100/100 for us fans tho...wouldnt trade him for anyone.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

I guess what I am getting at is all that "make a difference" crap was just PR spin cycle chit. It wasn't known that an "agreement" was already made between Brees and the Dolphins.

So in my mind, the only reason he came here was because the first team he selected ended up not wanting him so he choose us. We were the only 2 teams interested in him. So he went to the only place that would give him a chance but thats not the way it was spun at the time.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

I'm not sure we'll ever really know the exact dialogue and the manner that the situation and end results came to pass, and that's alright with me.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Doesn't really matter, does it? Brees is a Saint.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

My Saban Voodoo doll

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

No, I think you are way overthinking this, or even going out of your way just looking for things to dislike about Brees. The Saints were maybe the last stop for Brees that year, but it's very likely that with another year of rest and rehab, someone else would have signed him in 2007.


There was a guy, an executive in the music business, who walked around for years being known as "the guy who passed up the Beatles" because he had them in his office and didn't give them a contract, so they signed with another company....and Saban is trying to cover his a--, and NOT be seen as that guy. It is what it is.


I mean this respectfully, but you're also kinda forgetting how real Katrina was. EVERYBODY was saying that kind of stuff about rebuilding and they all meant it. Payton said it. Fujita said it. I could name more. I think you're just really kinda wrong about that, because there's a lot of distance from it now, but you have to go back to the time and remember how real that **** was. People were passionate. It was the right thing to do.

Remember the story about Sean Payton coming to interview, and getting lost coming off the interstate, and ending up in some horrific flood zone driving around looking at everything? Was that the main reason he took the Saints job? NO. Did it make a profound impact on him in his process of deciding? Absolutely yes. Same with Brees.

The only way you could believe it was "PR spin cycle chit" for Brees to say that, was if you are one of those people who believed the city should not have been rebuilt, and I know you well enough to know I don't think you believe that.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Who gives a s***? Brees is a Saint....we have a Lombardi....and Saban is trying to use the PR spin to make it seem to any NFL teams that might want him that "hey I had a valid reason for passing up Brees" so it doesn't look like he is the complete idiot he looked like during the last NFL stint he had.

It doesn't mean anything....even if Brees didn't pass the physical....even if this was his last resort....bottom line is neither the Saints fans, organization or Brees regret him coming here one bit.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

I figured I was just over thinking it. I don't know why, it hit a nerve for some reason. I don't think I am going out of my way to find something to dislike about Brees. You won't find a post of me saying anything to that point. You know me better than that. Hell..I have 4 jerseys and 3 of them have #9 on them..lol

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

What is that image supposed to mean? And is that Miles on the top?

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Brees stated in his book even in his 1st preseason game he wasn't 100%. Plus he didn't like the way he way he was treated in Miami. Everything was about his throwing arm and they could care less about the person attached.
New Orleans was a totally different story. They actually watched film and spoke about the future.
All in his book and its a good read.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

And Saban's point is?

:dunce:

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Brees never took a physical with the Saints... Read his book.
He told the Dolphins and the Saints to "trust him" that his shoulder would be ready by the start of the season and only the Saints believed him.
Saban is a liar and a faliure... But he cheats well which is why he is a good college coach.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Yup....
He also said in his first practice his first couple of passing were right in the dirt and fell short. He heard Sean Payton suggest "use you're legs"
After that the passes were on target.
Honestly if you haven't read his book... you're missing out. A very good read.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Spoken like a true LSU fan lol

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Nope.
UCLA fan from the west coast where we see college football for what it is...
An arms race... He who has the gold, wins.
How else would you explain how Oregon is good?

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Because Chip Kelly is a good coach?

I'm not an LSU or AL fan, but I did go to a school in the SEC (go dawgs) and I have to admit I've never suspected Saban of cheating or that being why he is a good coach. I think it comes down to the fact that he's a helluva recruiter and he did it with great success at LSU and AL.

If you want to accuse anybody of cheating, you should look elsewhere in the state to the Univ of Aub, they basically got caught paying Scam Newton. That's cheating. What Saban does has to be called at least better-than-average coaching

But I won't argue at all about the liar part, any good ball coach is definitely a liar at some point in his career

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

You call it recruiting, others call it rule-breaking.

Trent Richardson's 2011 Yukon With Nice Rims -- Nothing To See Here : Outkick The Coverage

Nothing honest, unintentional about Oregon paying Lyles to deliver talent - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com News, Scores, Stats, Schedule and BCS Rankings

USC/Reggie Bush investigation - College Football - Rivals.com

SPORTSbyBROOKS » Court Docs: AJ McCarron 2011 Yukon - No Plates!

SPORTSbyBROOKS » Rogue Booster’s Photo: “Trent at the new home!”

I'm not saying... I'm just saying...

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

It doesn't matter he's ours!

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Where I'm from there was a saying that goes, "If you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin'."

Its obvious by the number of articles you cited that this goes on everywhere, not just the state of Alabama. If Saban is that much of a cheater, then he will likely follow the path of Carroll, Tressel, etc.., i.e., the more success you and your program experience, the more people try to dig up things to discredit/bring you back down to earth

But do you honestly think the only reason that many of the best players go to play for Nick Saban is because of some side benefits they might get while there? Saban is a perennial conduit for NFL caliber players, and they can't pay all of those guys with new cars and new houses like Trent Richardson. TR was one of MANY Bama players to be drafted last year, and its hard for me to believe that they were all driving around in new Yukons with new rims. Top-end HS players/their parents know that if they have the talent/passion/'it' factor, Saban can get them to the big show

To me, the fact of the matter is Saban is a very talented coach, and if he stays at Bama, he'll undoubtedly content for several more national titles in the next few years. With this has to come the recognition that in the hyper-competitive modern college football market, Saban is consistently succeeding AND building great teams. If he wins a couple more NCs, he'll be in the conversations of "who's the best ever" and its just very hard for me to believe that all of his success is a direct reflection of him being a cheater

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

And... Greg Williams tried to stop the bounties....

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

It's a shame he had to settle for the Saints. Two NFL championship games, one Super Bowl MVP setting all sorts of records. Denying Brees a life of obscurity in south Florida and paying him $100 million to boot!!! The Saints are such bastards!!!! How could they?

He signed with the Saints that's all that matters!!!

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

It's over..... he is going to Cleveland.... he wants to climb one last mountain....

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

OH boy, here we geaux...

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Saban's a great college coach.

He is also a lying sack of it so I wouldn't pay this any mind.

Re: Saban says Dolphins had picked Brees over Culpepper
 

Drew couldn't pass a physical here. He was in his third game before he started feeling comfortable throwing.