Playing devil's advocate. We don't know what is going on "off the field". Saban is all about doing everything right, on and off the field.
He very much is a father figure to these guys and has to exercise tough love from time to time. It is what is best for the person, not just the football player. For some guys, that light bulb never turns on.
Saban used the analogy a couple years ago (when he was giving a player a second chance) of a guy that was on his team at Michigan St. The player screwed up and everyone told him to kick the guy off the team. Saban disciplined him and allowed him to work his way back on the team, the guy went on to graduate and become a financial advisor....or something to that effect. Said the guys daughter was graduating high school and was about to go to Princeton or Harvard (one of the Ivy League schools). He ask the media, where would that girl be today, had I not given her dad a second chance? We want what is best for the product we see on the field. Saban wants was best for the individual, on and off the field.