Saban: Alabama unlikely to suspend Robinson, Jones for arrests

Alabama head coach Nick Saban suggested Wednesday at the SEC media days that star left tackle Cam Robinson and defensive back Laurence "Hootie" Jones won't be suspended for their offseason run-in with the law.

"The facts we have are different than were advertised," Saban told reporters.

Robinson and Jones were arrested on weapons and drug charges in May, but the Ouachita Parish (La.) district attorney's office chose not to prosecute them because of a lack of evidence.

Saban said the players have changed their behavior since the incident, and will be allowed to suit up in the season opener as long as they continue to comply with various conditions set by the program.

"To think the only way to help players is (to) suspend them for games is a punitive attitude that may not be correct," Saban added.

Robinson enters the season as one of the top tackles in the nation and is projected to be among the first players picked in the 2017 NFL Draft. Jones isn't as large a star as his teammate, but still appeared in nine games as a sophomore last season for the defending national champions.