Antonio Cromartie, a former NFL player, has added his comments to Nick Saban’s statement from Wednesday on Alabama “not buying a player” with today’s NIL climate in college football.
The feud between Saban and Jimbo Fisher provided many conversations on social media.
RELATED: Jimbo Fisher rips Nick Saban for paying players comments: ‘We’re done’
People continue to take sides, but the game between Alabama and Texas A&M on Oct. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium will be epic.
Cromartie, who played for Florida State from 2003 to 2005, said Alabama has been paying players before NIL. A native of Tallahassee, Fla., he got selected in the first round (No. 19 overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. Cromartie spent his first four seasons with the San Diego Chargers before moving to the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, and Indianapolis Colts.
He became the cornerbacks’ coach for Texas A&M in 2021. Cromartie claims Alabama offered him $60,000 between 2002 and 2003 to come on a visit and help them in recruiting when they were on probation.
Shit Trap 02/03 I was offered 60k just to come on a visit to help with recruiting when they were on probation. So yeah I know what you mean when they been paying for years.
— ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) May 19, 2022
Coach Saban was at Louisiana State University at the time, so this has nothing to do with him. Saban did not arrive in Tuscaloosa as head coach until 2007. When he says “we did not buy a player,” Saban is referring to his staff since his arrival.
The more people talk, the more interesting SEC Media Days will be in July.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
