Little Nicky Saban spoke with the elderly the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery, Alabama on Tuesday. It was his first time to address the public about the impact that the arrest of Jimmy Johns (aka “Jimmy the Snowman“) will have on the team:

“I’ve been asked about this over and over and over,” he said, referring to the constant high expectations surrounding the former “Mr. Football” from Mississippi. “This guy did not play a significant role on our team last year and he had not solidified a significant role on the team we’re about to have this season. So I don’t know what the concern is.”

Interesting that Saban would say that about the Snowman considering that he was co-Special Teams Player of the Year last year and won the “Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award” after Spring practice this year, and not to mention that: 

Two starters remain in limbo for this season. Outside linebacker Zeke Knight is not expected to return from a blood disorder that sidelined him in 2006 and again in offseason workouts this past winter. Also, inside linebacker Prince Hall remains suspended for disciplinary reasons that threaten his status with the team.

That left inside linebacker Rolando McClain, backups Chavis Williams and Brandon Fanney and tailback-turned-linebacker Johns as the only players with any significant varsity experience in spring workouts.

So Saban’s answer to the criticism: Jimmy wasn’t important, he was a nobody. Nice spin, Nicky. Oh, and apparently, Nick didn’t like the questions about his former, drug trafficking linebacker:

Saban cut short the interview, feeling he had been unfairly blindsided by the continual discussion involving Johns. He later returned and resumed the discussion, making it clear he felt the program was moving in the right direction with a highly touted group of incoming freshman that was ranked the top recruiting class in America by virtually every recruiting analyst.

That’s right. Just fall back on that No. 1 recruiting class, and keep blaming it on Shula’s recruiting. Because all is well in T-Town, all is well. [$1 and a HT to Rock85]