National Football League

Tarkenton: 'Disrespectful' McCarron 'should keep his mouth shut'

Published Oct. 8, 2014 2:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

Oh, snap! It seems AJ McCarron may have pissed off more than just the Alabama faithful with his criticism of his former team.

The ex-Crimson Tide signal caller — who's now a Cincinnati Bengal — offered some choice comments about Alabama and coach Nick Saban after the team lost this past weekend to Ole Miss.

Speaking on the Tuscaloosa-based Tide 99.1-FM radio show, McCarron said, among other things, that Saban is known to put "handcuffs" on his offensive coordinators and that the team lacks "true leaders."

Ouch! That hurts — so much so that even a former Georgia Bulldog had to speak out.

Legendary ex-Minnesota Vikings QB Fran Tarkenton took McCarron to task for what some might perceive as disloyalty, calling him "an average quarterback at best" who "should keep his mouth shut (and) praise Saban and Alabama for the rest of his life."

Tarkenton made his comments to Birmingham-based WJOX-FM's "The Opening Drive." Here are the money quotes:

"AJ McCarron, he needs to be quiet. He was so fortunate to play in that program. He's an average quarterback at best. He couldn't have played anywhere else but Alabama. And to make any kind of comment . . . it's just disrespectful. He shouldn't have made it, and he should keep his mouth shut (and) praise Saban and Alabama for the rest of his life."

Wow.

And that's coming from a former Georgia player. Just imagine what Alabama alums might be thinking right about now.

(H/t to Larry Brown Sports and FTW)