Rumor Mill: Browns ownership preparing 10-year, $100 million offer for Nick Saban

alabamagamedayr | December 18, 2012 at 4:55 pm | 6 Comments

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and his team hold the SEC trophy after winning the 2012 SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Georgia Dome. Alabama won 32-28. (Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports)

Alabama coach Nick Saban has built a dynasty with his on-campus football powerhouse. After winning two BCS National Championships in his previous three years, all Saban has done is lead his team to yet another title game appearance while recruiting yet another class of prep superstars.

So why would he ever want to leave?

Well, after issuing a statement stating that ‘it would not be fair to leave’ Alabama, new Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam may make it impossible for him to stay.

According to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, Haslam is working on putting together a 10-year, $100 million deal to lure Saban away from his throne in Tuscaloosa.

Haslam has made no secret of the fact that he wants to make a change not only at head coach, but at general manager as well, in order to help spark a change in the culture of the downtrodden franchise.

Sources have repeatedly said that Haslam and CEO Joe Banner will bring in Mike Lombardi to replace current GM Tom Heckert with the express desire to pair Saban with Lombardi.

Grossi does not believe that bringing in Lombardi will be by any means enough to bring Saban back to the professional ranks, but that amount of money is no joke.

Whether or not Saban seriously entertains any offer Haslam and the Browns throw his way is no laughing matter for members of Tide Nation.

Luckily, again, Gross believes the Alabama athletic department will match any offers for their coach, and that Saban, at this point, does not want to go anywhere. That being said, perhaps we should enjoy this, Saban’s run at a third national championship in a mere four years, because it very well may be his last at Alabama.