Lawyer Critiques Trump, Saban Over NIL Executive Order Talks

After former Alabama football coach Nick Saban introduced President Donald Trump at a University of Alabama commencement, the two discussed the possibility of an executive order to regulate Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments in college sports. This idea has drawn sharp criticism from Steve Berman, the lead attorney representing athletes in the landmark $2.78 billion House v. NCAA settlement, who called their intervention 'unmerited and unhelpful.' Berman noted that Saban, who previously opposed NIL payments and benefited financially under the old system, is now seeking to add new restrictions through political influence. He argued that college athletes are already leading historic changes and benefiting from NIL deals, and do not need interference from figures like Saban and Trump. The proposed executive order is seen by critics as an attempt to protect the previous system rather than support ongoing reforms driven by athletes themselves.