Saban brings rookie Wright to tears

 

By Alex Marvez

Staff Writer

Posted July 27 2005

 

 

DAVIE -- The first full-pads practice of camp resulted in one Dolphin crying, but not because of any physical contact.

 

Rookie defensive tackle Manny Wright left the field in tears Tuesday after he was chewed out by coach Nick Saban before the session had even begun.

 

Wright, who was wearing a red (no-contact) jersey because of a back injury, was confronted by Saban as others began pre-practice stretching.

 

An animated Saban took off his hat and pointed to his head as trainer Kevin O'Neill approached. Wright began to weep as he returned to the locker room, wiping his face with his jersey.

 

Wright returned to the practice 30 minutes later and spoke with Saban during a water break.

 

Wright, who was selected in the fifth round of the supplemental draft this month, received limited snaps the rest of the session.

 

"He's probably not in as good of shape as he needs to be in," Saban said of the 6-foot-6, 329-pound Wright. "He is having some of the same issues and problems with soreness, tight back and those types of things, so we are trying to work him and manage him through it as best we can.

 

"As you well know, young players need to develop the kind of mental toughness and attitude that they need to be professionals. So we are trying to help him with that, too.

 

"Maybe we need to get on him a little bit at times. I got on him about what we wanted him to try to do at least today to work himself through it, and he responded well to it."

 

Wright was unavailable for comment, but agent Peter Schaffer said he spoke with him about the situation.

 

"Manny said there was a misunderstanding and that Coach Saban went in after practice and said he was sorry he yelled," Schaffer said. "Manny said he was sorry, too, and they agreed to move forward. Coach Saban thinks he has a very bright future, and Manny will do anything to become a valuable part of this team.

 

"People forget that Manny is 21 years old and this is his first training camp. He didn't get the benefit from having an offseason or minicamp [with the Dolphins]. He has a lot being thrown at him. I'm sure Manny isn't the first player to get yelled at in practice, and I'm sure he won't be the last."

 

Staff photographer Robert Mayer contributed to this report.

 

 

:plain

:lol

be4 i even read the article i waas gonna say what a BITCH....... but after reading the article...... dunno wha really to say....... but ya gotta feel 4 da kid

This makes Saban even more badass in my book.

Now if he can make Roth cry, then he would definitely be a badass in my book.