**NFL Network Sad Report :Nick Saban Reacts in Two Words as Key Alabama Player Cut from Final Roster 2025**

**NFL Network Sad Report :Nick Saban Reacts in Two Words as Key Alabama Player Cut from Final Roster 2025**

In a surprising twist that sent shockwaves through the Alabama football community, a key former Crimson Tide standout failed to make the final 53-man roster of his NFL team ahead of the 2025 season. But what really caught fans’ attention was legendary coach **Nick Saban’s brief yet powerful reaction**: **“That’s football.”**

Though retired from coaching, Saban has remained a prominent voice in the college football and NFL worlds, offering commentary and analysis in his post-coaching career. When asked about the release of former Alabama wide receiver **Jermaine Burton**, who had been drafted in the mid-rounds just a year earlier, Saban kept it characteristically short, measured, and stoic.

“That’s football,” Saban told a reporter at a charity golf event when asked for his thoughts. Those two words encapsulate the reality of the sport — a game that, even for the most talented and well-coached athletes, offers no guarantees.

Jermaine Burton, a former Georgia transfer who became a reliable target in Alabama’s offense during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, had high expectations entering the NFL. Known for his route-running precision and competitive fire, Burton had been seen as a player with mid-round value and long-term potential. But after a lackluster preseason and being buried on a deep receiver depth chart, he was among the final cuts announced this week.

Saban’s brief response may seem cold to some, but it reflects a fundamental truth he often preached during his career: success at the next level is earned every day, not inherited from college accolades. It’s part of a tough-love philosophy that helped Alabama become a dynasty under his leadership.

Former Alabama players, coaches, and fans took to social media to express support for Burton, who is expected to be picked up by another team or signed to a practice squad soon. “He’s got too much talent to be on the sideline for long,” one NFL scout told reporters anonymously. “He just needs the right fit.”

Saban, who officially retired in early 2024 after an unmatched career with seven national championships, has continued to follow his former players closely, often offering mentorship and quiet support behind the scenes. While his two-word response may sound dismissive to the untrained ear, longtime Alabama insiders know it’s how Saban expresses respect for the game’s unpredictability and competitiveness.

“It’s never personal with Coach,” said a former assistant. “He’s always been honest about how tough this game is. If anything, ‘that’s football’ is his way of saying, ‘keep your head up and get back to work.’”

Burton’s journey may have hit a speed bump, but if Saban’s philosophy taught anything, it’s that adversity is just another opportunity to grow. As the NFL season looms, many expect Burton to get another shot — and to carry with him the mindset instilled in Tuscaloosa: discipline, resilience, and relentless preparation.

For now, Saban’s words echo a truth every player faces in the transition to the pros: it’s a business, it’s a battle, and yes — that’s football.

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