Ex-Alabama LB Anderson: It was a 'suggestion' for Watson to leave bar

Former Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson has given his side of the story after video surfaced of him and fellow ex-Crimson Tide player Wallace Gilberry telling former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson to leave a Tuscaloosa bar on March 31.

"It was blown out of proportion. I didn't ask him to leave," Anderson said to John Talty of AL.com. "I simply made a suggestion. I told him it wasn't smart for him to be there and if he had finished eating, he should get up out of there. That's all it was."

After talking with the national championship-winning quarterback, Anderson said Watson understood and didn't take offense to the "suggestion."

The two exchanged text messages and a phone call after the incident.

"I just let him know what I was trying to do," Anderson said. "I was trying to help him."