SENIOR BOWL: Saban on Julio Jones trade, Paterno
Alabama coach Nick Saban before his interview on NFL Network at the 2012 Senior Bowl on Monday. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbtter@ajc.com)
FAIRHOPE, Ala. – Alabama coach Nick Saban attended the South’s practice at Fairhope Municipal Stadium on Monday.
He said he wasn’t surprised that Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones turned in a strong year and led the rookie class with eight touchdowns.
“He’s focused on what he wants to do,” said Saban, who coached Jones at Alabama. “He stays focused on the things that are going to affect his performance and he’s very mature about it. It doesn’t surprise me at all that he had a great year as a rookie. A lot of people criticized the Falcons for moving up to pick him. I think it was worthwhile for them and I think he proved them very much right.”
Saban on Paterno
Saban said that he considered former Penn State coach Joe Paterno a friend and that his death was a loss for college football.
“I can’t say enough about what he did for college football and his dedication to college football,” Saban said. “I don’t think anybody can; for the success that he had and the impact that he had and how he affected other people.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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64 comments Add your comment
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris, I don't care
January 25th, 2012
12:03 pm
OMG DAN, PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK IDIOT….you must be an old dude.
Ryan Daniel
January 25th, 2012
2:47 pm
Hey IKillTrollsAllDay, I used to call Ray Buchanan, and you may have heard this one, “Give Up the Big Play Ray.” Thought I’d share in case you wanted to use that nickname from now on!
Falcons > Everyone
January 25th, 2012
11:02 pm
Julio Jones > Greg Little, Jonathan Baldwin and Owen Marecic, aka three of the draft picks we traded to Cleveland. Please tell me you’d rather have these three guys instead and have Julio in Cleveland. After that, slap yourself.
Th
January 26th, 2012
11:37 am
Are wide receivers as good as Julio so rare they are worth 5 draft picks to get one and do wide receivers have so great an impact that it is worth 5 draft picks to have Julio instead of Jenkins? No and No. I wouldn’t use 5 draft picks to get Jerry Rice in his prime.
What did the Giants and Pats give up for their WR’s (or TE’s in the case of the Pat’s)? Victor Cruz wasn’t even drafted and the Pat TE’s were 2nd and 4th round.
I would give 5 draft picks for a really good player evaluator or coach and maybe a proven QB.
Domeinate
January 26th, 2012
9:47 pm
What else did this journalist expect Saban to say about Julio Jones?? Why not ask a Dad if his daughter is ugly?
Rob
January 27th, 2012
7:24 am
What would you expect him to say? He’s just like a politician.
Mikey
January 27th, 2012
10:01 am
I also like the JJ11 pick. Time will tell but so far he is doing better than expected. With his work ethic, size, speed and capability, the sky is the limit. Saban knows football at least as well as ALL negative Falcons fans combined.
Gritsfalcon
January 27th, 2012
9:55 pm
Good move by the Falcons on Julio Jones. I like it. It was bold and we start getting out 1st and subsequent draft picks next year. Gotta work on that O line, though.
Runnin with the Dawgs
January 28th, 2012
9:26 am
The Falcons gave up Harvey Dahl and Michael Jenkins to make room for Julio on the payroll. Was it REALLY worth it?
Runnin with the Dawgs
January 28th, 2012
9:34 am
Another thing that I don’t understand is adding Quizz to the roster. Do we REALLY need a running back that’s 5′6″. He hasn’t proven to me that he is any better than Antone Smith, yet he stepped into the lineup ahead of him.
cdog
January 28th, 2012
10:40 am
why don’t falcons fans use common sense?.the move to get julio jones was a dream come true.if the falcons get the right quarterback who’s not scared and is a winner jones, will be better than jerry rice and all of the great recievers ever in the game.he’s just the right QB away.he and johnson of the detroit lions are the top now. difference, johnson has a QB and jones don’t
SENIOR BOWL: Saban on Julio Jones trade, Paterno | NFL Online News
January 28th, 2012
5:56 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons This entry was posted in Atlanta Falcons and tagged Bowl, Jones, Julio, Paterno, Saban, senior, Trade. Bookmark the permalink. ← Del Rio replaces Allen as Broncos’ defensive coordinator [...]
Laughing Out Loud
January 30th, 2012
7:06 am
Sid, thanks for posting the Mayhue story. It almost made me change my name from laughing out loud for that story is no laughing matter. The phrase “A man is more than his failings is awsome.”
I usually just read but....
January 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
I’m a dawg fan, always have been, always will be. BUT, If you control the hire of their coach one day and it can be Saban or Mark Richt who’s it gonna be? For that matter, Saban or any other coach you can think of, who would it be. Sure, he’s a jerk but…. I don’t care. He don’t do draw plays with 20yds to go on 4th down!!