Colin Cowherd thinks he knows where Nick Saban might land if the former Alabama coach returns to the sideline.
The talk show host floated the idea on his podcast that Saban could end up with the Cleveland Browns. This comes after Greg McElroy started speculation about Saban potentially returning to coaching.
Cowherd suggested Browns ownership could offer Saban a five-year deal worth $75 million.
But money probably isn’t the driving factor here.
Saban made millions as Alabama’s head coach and still has several endorsements. He owns a Mercedes dealership and works for ESPN. If he comes back to coaching, it won’t be about the paycheck.
The Browns could offer him something more valuable – a piece of the team.
The franchise is worth over $5 billion. Reports suggest Saban may be looking into owning part of a pro team. If Cleveland wants to make a serious run at him, ownership stakes could be the answer.
There’s another major factor to consider. Saban likes control.
One reason he left the NFL the first time was because he didn’t like answering to a general manager and owner. At Alabama, he ran everything. He picked his staff, recruited his players, and set the rules.
In the NFL, decisions go through ownership first.
Then there’s the age factor. Saban turns 74 later this year. Even a four-year deal would take him to 78 years old.
He wouldn’t be jumping into a situation where he can win immediately like he did in college. Building an NFL team takes time. Building one in Cleveland takes even longer.
Saban might be better off staying retired.
