SEC media days report

 Alabama coach Nick Saban talks to the media during the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Wednesday.
Alabama coach Nick Saban talks to the media during the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Wednesday.

— Saban: Agents are ‘pimps’.

- Alabama Coach Nick Saban said there are a lot of good agents who represent athletes and comply with NCAA rules.

There also are some agents Saban holds in low regard for “chasing guys and giving them money, flying them all over the country ... sending girls after them, all kinds of stuff” to get them to sign.

“How are they better than a pimp?” Saban said of agents he believes prey on college players by offering them inducements in violation of NCAA rules. “I have no respect for them.”

Saban, speaking Wednesday at SEC football media days, made his “pimp” comment in light of Crimson Tide defensive end Marcell Dareus being among the college players being investigated for possible ties to an agent that could jeopardize his eligibility.

“Our compliance people are looking into it in conjunction with the NCAA,” Saban said.

Saban said collegeplayers have been educated about the dangers of associating with agents and must bear responsibility for their actions. But he added that agents who “entrap” players need to be held accountable for breaking the rules, too.

Brandon Marcello and Wally Hall discuss Alabama's Nick Saban firing verbal shots at agents, what to expect from Ryan Mallett on Thursday and much more from Day 1 of SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala.

WholeHogCast: SEC Media Days — Day 1

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Saban suggested a possible penalty would be suspending a misbehaving agent’s license for a year, and said if the NFL continues to ignore the situation, banning scouts from college practices should be considered.

“I’m for doing something,” Saban said. “I don’t think the system as it is right now is very good.

“I would hate for somebody to suspend me and tell me I can’t collect fees in my profession for a year. That would do me a lot of good in terms of straightening out whatever I was doing wrong.”No Superman

Florida offensive lineman Mike Pouncey said the Gators would be much the same offensive team they were a year ago, with one exception, as John Brantley replaces former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at quarterback.

“We’re not going to run our quarterback as much,” Pouncey said. “He’s not as big as Superman was.”

Sports, Pages 24 on 07/22/2010

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