TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) – Alabama coach Nick Saban doesn’t think Reuben Foster’s run-in with a hospital worker at the NFL combine should affect his draft status.
Saban and Foster’s teammates defended the Butkus Award-winning linebacker Wednesday at Alabama’s pro day after Foster had met with officials from various teams, partly to address that incident.
“If you’re looking for a good teammate to be on your team, Reuben’s going to be very, very good,” Saban said. “If you’re looking for somebody to be a candy striper and be nice to everybody at the hospital, maybe not.”
Foster was a spectator at pro day, dressed in sneakers, a long-sleeved T-shirt and shorts. He wasn’t scheduled to work out at the combine either while recovering from shoulder surgery, but the NFL sent the projected top 10 pick home following the verbal altercation over a long wait for tests at an Indianapolis hospital.
Foster didn’t talk to reporters Wednesday but Saban said Alabama coaches didn’t have any issues with Foster during his four years in Tuscaloosa. He also offered some insight into what happened, saying it would be “short-sighted” to think Foster should go lower in the draft.