"Nick Saban doesn't want to deal with that anymore": when Johnny Manziel ripped NIL's ill effects to break down Alabama HC's retirement
Johnny Manziel recognizes that NIL has altered the landscape of college football from top-to-bottom. The NCAA allowing players to be paid has made transfer portal activity skyrocket, changed recruiting strategies and even forced the greatest coach in college football history into retirement ahead of his time.
After 17 seasons leading the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nick Saban called it a career following the 2023 season, citing NIL and the rise of the transfer portal for his premature retirement.
In an interview with Shannon Sharpe back in February, college football legend Johnny Manziel broke down Saban's decision to retire. Speaking on "Club ShayShay," Sharpe asked the Heisman Trophy winner what he felt led Saban to walk away from college football.
"I think the NIL has changed everything for what he's known. I think it's made it (recruiting) so much more hands-on and continually having to stay on these guys because of how many people are in their ear.
"It's not the firm handshake anymore, it's not the old school ways of the world where your word is your bond and this and that. It's very wishy-washy. Where's the money today? And if it's today someone can outbid you. Where's your loyalty?
"Just 16-17 year old kids we are talking about, so in my opinion, Saban doesn't want to deal with that anymore. What better way than to go out the way that he did?" (1:30 mark)
Saban ultimately joined Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Rece Davis and Chris Fowler on "College GameDay" ahead of the season. Johnny Manziel was one of the few to top a Saban-led Crimson Tide squad, leading his Texas A&M Aggies to a 29-24 over a top-ranked Alabama team in 2012.
Johnny Manziel completed 24 of 31 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, adding 92 yards on the ground in the upset win.
Johnny Manziel shows love to Deion Sanders and Buffalo
In the same interview with Sharpe, Manziel fielded a question regarding his hypothetical interest in playing for Deion Sanders at Colorado if he were a high school recruit once again.
"Would you be interested in playing for (Deion Sanders)," Sharpe asked Manziel. (0:25 mark)
"Without a doubt," Manziel responded quickly. "Me and him being Texas guys, he's up in Prosper. We've had a great relationship for years, and looking back on our relationship; he knew something special in me to the point where he would interject in my life at times, or send me a message, or really show love that he didn't have to do."
"I would play for a man who's a leader of men," Manziel continued. "For a man who carries himself the way (Deion) does. Without a doubt."
Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes enter Week 13 of the regular season with an 8-2 record, ranked as the No. 16 team in the AP Top 25.