Paul Finebaum said he could finally say it.

Sitting across from ESPN analyst Nick Saban, the SEC Network analyst could admit something he couldn’t admit to Nick Saban, the Alabama football coach.

“I can reveal it now,” Finebaum admitted during an interview with Saban on “The Paul Finebaum Show,” which was taped after his round at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am on Wednesday. “You weren’t the easiest interview.”

Saban didn’t blink.

“Well, let me just tell you,” he started, “remember the time I first came to Alabama and tried to teach you how to pay defensive back? You aren’t the easiest guy to coach either.”

Finebaum could only shrug, saying “as of this hour, I’m only seven national championships behind you, but the day is young.”

The two have tangled in the past, of course. Perhaps none more notable than in 2016 at SEC Media Days. Things got heated on the SEC Network set, when Finebaum was critical of Saban’s handling of the offseason arrest of star offensive tackle Cam Robinson and defensive back Hootie Jones.

Saban accused Finebaum of trying to convict the two players through the media, even though charges had been dropped. After the show went to commercial break, Saban stood up and launched an expletive-laden tirade at Finebaum, within ear shot of the media. AL.com’s Michael Casagrande caught part of the exchange on video.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.