A what-if scenario that has been associated with the Giants for years just won't go away.
Without fail, every time the Giants' have had a head coaching vacancy in the past two decades, Nick Saban's name has surfaced as a potential candidate. The legendary University of Alabama coach's name was injected into the rumor mill this offseason by former Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.
Arians said that Saban "covets" the Giants' job on Jan. 9 during an interview with FS1's Colin Cowherd. There was no reported contact between the Giants and Saban, who won his sixth national championship on Jan. 8, and Pat Shurmur will officially be introduced as head coach on Friday. But Arians insists that he believes Saban had interest in the Giants' opening.
"I think Nick did have an interest," Arians told NJ Advance Media. "I've known Nick a long time. The New York Giants was a job he really, really liked. That would be the job because it is the New York Football Giants. When I said it, it was really not a joke. It was what I thought at the time."
Fox NFL reporter Jay Glazer clouded the issue by posting a photo with Arians on Instagram that said "after a few vodkas Arians said he was just messing with the world about Nick Saban to the Giants." Arians dismissed Glazer's post as "goofy" and said he was serious about Saban's interest due to the coach's close relationship with current Patriots coach and former Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.
"His connections with Belichick and Bill Parcells and all the people he knows love that job," Arians said. "I believed it. I know Nick."
Arians, who retired after the regular season finale, has coached in the NFL since 1989. Although he never worked with Shurmur, Arians has known the new Giants coach for years.
"He's outstanding," Arians said. "I think he got a raw deal in Cleveland. He did a great job with those guys he had in Minnesota this year, taking them that far. He's always had an outstanding offensive system. I think it's a great fit."
Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.