VIDEO: Nick Saban Defends Reuben Foster at Alabama’s Pro Day
Alabama's Pro Day isn't usually too important for players projected to go in the first round of the NFL Draft, but Reuben Foster was an exception this year.
The Butkus winner was sent home from the NFL Combine last week after an altercation with a hospital worker and told teams he would use Pro Day as an opportunity to answer any questions from last weekend. It would be his chance to set the record straight and address any concerns teams might have.
Foster wasn't made available to the media, but his head coach was. Nick Saban explained the situation in Indianapolis and stuck up for his senior.
"Look, Reuben's been a great player for us here," Saban said. "We've never had any issues with Reuben. I think that when you ask someone, if anybody here asks someone eight or 10 times, 'Am I in the right place? Is my name on the list? Why have I had to stay here for so long?' and nobody will respond to you, I think it would probably create a little anxiety for all of us.
"And I know that Reuben wishes he would have responded maybe in a little more positive way, but I think other people could have responded and been a little more respectful to him as well."
Saban, who was an NFL head coach before coming to Tuscaloosa, doesn't think this should affect his draft status.
"Anybody that thinks what happened in Indy should affect this guy's future in the draft is being very short-sighted. He's played here for four years. We've never had issues with him. He's always been a great leader, he's the signal caller on defense, he's bright, and he's always been a great team guy and really well liked by his teammates."
Saban ended the topic with a message to the NFL.
"If you're looking for a good teammate to be on your team, Reuben's going to be very, very good. If you're looking for somebody to be a candy striper and be nice to everybody at the hospital, maybe not."
You can listen to everything Nick Saban said at Alabama's Pro Day in the video below.