Alabama Football: How Should AJ McCarron Handle Questions About the Tide?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—AJ McCarron hasn’t exactly endeared himself to many Alabama fans since leaving Tuscaloosa with three BCS National Championship rings (two of which he won as a starter).

His latest comments came on 99.1 FM in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, in which he said Alabama lacked “true leaders” on offense and that Saban has “put handcuffs” on the offense in the past.

After Alabama coach Nick Saban responded to those comments, saying they were untrue and that he doesn’t know how McCarron would know about Alabama’s leadership, McCarron went back on the air Wednesday, claiming he was taken out of context and clarifying his remarks.

That has led to a number of negative comments from fans, media and even former teammates.

It’s hard to imagine a bigger fall from grace for a three-time national champion that didn’t involve a major scandal.

So how should McCarron have responded, and what could he do going forward to help his image? That depends on his motivation, according to Dr. Kenon A. Brown, a professor in Alabama’s nationally recognized public relations program.

“I really don’t understand how he could be critical of a team that has supported him, of a fanbase that supported him, and a fanbase that he delivered, as part of a team, two national championships to,” Brown said in an interview with Bleacher Report. “And it seems like since he has left The University of Alabama, he’s taken every chance that he has to, in my opinion, candidly take shots at the program.”

Brown, who specializes in image and reputation management in sports, said that judging by McCarron’s comments, it’s hard to tell just what his motivation is at this point.

“Does he think that this is going to put him in a more positive light?” said Brown, who has published academic papers on Lebron James’ Decision and Michael Vick’s dogfighting scandal and how they subsequently repaired their images.

“Does he think that he maybe will not have a productive NFL career? So he thinks being candid and being controversial is going to propel him to stardom so he can take an anchor job on the SEC Network or something like that? Is he focused on the celebrity nature more than being the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals? Is he bored because he’s rehabbing his shoulder? I don’t know.”

This isn’t the first time McCarron has made disparaging comments about his alma mater.

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

It started soon after the Crimson Tide’s Sugar Bowl loss to Oklahoma, when McCarron was out of Alabama’s protective bubble. He attributed Alabama’s lack of success at the end of the 2013 season to entitlement among young players.

As the NFL Draft process began, reports surfaced that teams weren’t impressed with his interview process. He said he thought he would be drafted in the bottom half of the first round but was eventually taken in the fifth round by the Bengals.

To McCarron’s credit, he largely stayed quiet during the offseason and into the regular season. Tuesday night, he put himself out there once again, and the criticism came back up.

“Maybe he’s showing his true colors now,” Brown said. “If you follow collegiate and professional sports you know that there’s a level of control of the comments that you can make as a collegiate athlete. They have rules, they have regulations, they monitor social media. And then that’s really lifted when you become a professional.”

McCarron shouldn’t necessarily be criticized for having an opinion, though, Brown said. Plenty of players—including McCarron’s predecessor, Greg McElroy, now an analyst with the SEC Network—have offered criticism of the team.

The difference was in the delivery.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

“I would rather him own up to his opinion and at least try to justify his comments rather than backtracking,” Brown said. “Because then that’s when you look bad. I think when you start backtracking on the comments that you’ve made…now it starts looking like you were just in it to increase ratings, you were just in it to increase your public presence.”

Which brings us back to the motivational aspect.

If McCarron is doing this just to get attention, negative or otherwise, then he is very much succeeding.

But if he still wants to be a representative of the University of Alabama, there could be some fences that need a little bit of mending. That’s why Brown said if he was advising McCarron, he would begin that process as soon as possible.

“The first thing he needs to do is at least contact somebody on the Alabama coaching staff, whether it’s Saban or whoever, and at least attempt to clarify his comments,” Brown said. “The SEC really thrives on tradition. We like bringing our legends back. We like keeping our stars in good graces. Peyton Manning is around [Tennessee] two or three times a year. We like bringing back the people that help us re-live our glory days…It’s less likely for [McCarron] to be in those good graces when he comes back.”

There is also value in simply remaining silent.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

“It comes to a point where you just need to keep your mouth shut," Brown said. "You do not have to have the last words at all times. You stated your case. You made your opinions, Saban gave his opinion about your comments. Why couldn’t it just end there?”

McCarron, though, is never going to lose the graces of the entire Alabama fanbase. He was a part of all three national championships under Saban and is one of the most recognizable players in one of the greatest runs in college football history.

Images like “The Drive” against LSU in 2012 or him picking apart the Notre Dame defense in Miami won’t be quick to leave fans’ minds.

That’s why the AJ McCarron debate comes down to what exactly his motivations are, and what he’s trying to accomplish in his post-Alabama life.

“If I’m trying to get him in the spotlight—which, let’s be honest, this is what publicists do—if we’re talking about celebrity status, if you’re trying to become a celebrity, that’s one thing. And maybe this is the right move for him to be this brash, outgoing personality,” Brown said. “But if you’re trying to be a football player, and you’re still trying to be some sort of representative of the University of Alabama, tone it down a little bit. Just a little bit. I’m not saying don’t have an opinion, just tone it down a little bit.”

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.