Nick Saban gets his team fired up before a game against LSU last year. (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
Alabama coach Nick Saban said he visited with Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and offensive coordinator Adam Gase at the school’s football offices on the same day early last week, but not together.
The NFL is investigating the meeting because it might have violated the league’s collective bargaining agreement. Players and coaches are not allowed to meet before teams begin their offseason workout programs.
Saban on Friday night clarified comments he made the day before when he revealed meeting with the Broncos’ quarterback and offensive coordinator.
“I never said we sat down together,” Saban told the Denver Post.
Saban described the meeting as mutually beneficial as Manning looked for ways to improve, Gase and Saban talked generally, and Saban and his coaching staff learned more about the no-huddle offense.
The NFL is looking into the meeting after Saban said Thursday that “the two of them were just making some visits.”
After some implied Gase and Manning met with Saban simultaneously, Saban on Friday said he was “shocked that anybody would think someone did anything wrong” and this is “what happens when people assume.”
“I never met with Adam,” Saban added. “When I talked with him I talked about his family. Peyton, we talked an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Adam had been talking to our assistant coaches. I never talked with Adam about football.”
Saban said Manning and Gase did not arrive together and did not know if they left together.
“Peyton had called and said he wanted to drop by,” Saban said. “Adam had already been around for a couple days when Peyton showed up. It was kind of a coincidence that they were around at the same time. I don’t know if they left together, but I know they didn’t arrive here together.
“I was asked about their visit at my coach’s clinic press conference, but I never said we sat down together. Because we didn’t.”
Saban coached against Manning when the quarterback played for the Indianapolis Colts and Saban guided the Miami Dolphins. Saban is also friends with Archie Manning. Gase began his coaching career working under Saban at Michigan State and then at LSU.
—Former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was scheduled to work out for the Cleveland Browns on Saturday in College Station, Texas, according to ESPN.
Manziel is also set to visit the Browns next week. The Browns did not attend his pro day workout last month.
Manziel is widely projected as a high first-round pick in next month’s draft. The Browns have the No. 4 overall selection.
Veteran Brian Hoyer is the only quarterback on the Browns’ roster. He is looking to come back from a serious knee injury.
The Houston Texans, who have the No. 1 pick, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, owner of the third choice, have met with Manziel.
The Browns are coming off a 4-12 season and are rebuilding under new general manager Ray Farmer and first-year coach Mike Pettine.
—The Oakland Raiders will cut quarterback Terrelle Pryor on Monday if they are unable to trade him this weekend, according to FOX Sports.
The Raiders have indicated that Pryor does not fit into their future plans. Since he is due $750,000 this season, the team reportedly is looking to get a low-round draft pick for him.
Pryor, a gifted athlete who can run, completed 156 of 272 passes for 1,798 yards with seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 11 games last year. He also ran 83 times for 576 yards with two TDs.
Pryor asked to be traded in January. The Raiders signed quarterback Matt Schaub earlier this offseason with the intention of starting him. They also have the No. 5 pick in next month’s draft and may select a quarterback.
—The San Diego Chargers picked up their fifth-year year option on defensive end Corey Liuget, CBSSports.com reported Saturday.
Liuget’s 2015 option will cost the Chargers $6.969 million.
The deadline for teams to pick up fifth-year options on players from the 2011 draft class is May 3.
Liuget had 42 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble last year. In three NFL seasons, he has 122 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 13 pass breakups and two forced fumbles over 47 games.
The Chargers made Liuget No. 18 overall pick in the 2011 draft.
