Cam Newton and Auburn in the clear? Not so fast, my friend
Just because Auburn chose to play Cam Newton against Georgia doesn’t mean Auburn or Newton is safe. The NCAA doesn’t work that way. The NCAA gears, such as they are, grind slowly. The NCAA has only begun to sniff around.
Phillip Marshall of Auburn Undercover reported Saturday that the Newtons and Auburn administrators met with NCAA representatives last Thursday. (Link requires registration.) That the school chose to play Newton has been taken by some as an indication that the NCAA has nothing on Auburn. That’s not necessarily true. The NCAA might have nothing on Auburn yet. But by now its investigators have, or should have, a growing indication that this player was put up for sale at least once.
ESPN.com reported yesterday that another Mississippi State former player, the Florida businessman Bob Bell, essentially confirmed the story Kenny Rogers told on ESPN 103.3 Dallas last week and even added a detail: There was a payment schedule for Newton – $80,000 on his commitment to State, $50,000 one month later and $50,000 more a month after that.
From ESPN’s latest report: “Bell said Cecil Newton [Cam's father] never specifically asked him for money, but that Newton was present during three-way calls in which Rogers discussed a pay-for-play scheme.”
Again, none of the former Mississippi State players — Bell, Rogers or John Bond, who was the first to go public — has implicated Auburn. But here again we ask the only logical question: If Cecil Newton wanted $180,000 from Mississippi State, did he really turn around and send his son to another SEC school for free?
And the NCAA isn’t the only investigative body at work. From a TMZ report yesterday:
According to sources connected to the probe … FBI agents looking into the Newton recruiting controversy are also asking about Milton McGregor — a dog track owner arrested last month for allegedly bribing Alabama politicians to vote pro gambling.
We’re told agents asked someone connected to the Newton case if he was familiar with McGregor or the bribery scandal.
McGregor is an Auburn booster and an associate of the infamous former banker Bobby Lowder. McGregor owns VictoryLand, a dog track located just down I-85 from Auburn. Message boards have been buzzing about a possible Newton/McGregor link for the past week, but this is the first real report of any possible connection.
It’s unclear why the FBI would care about Cam Newton, but anytime the Feds get involved, however tangentially, the pace of an investigation accelerates. (Reportedly the McGregor case involves a wiretap.) The FBI, unlike the NCAA, has subpoena power. The FBI, unlike the NCAA, has the means to put somebody in jail for something.
Last week was a wild week regarding Newton. This week has been quieter, which is understandable. Auburn doesn’t play again until the day after Thanksgiving. Then it faces Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and that is, as you might have heard, a fairly big game. Then it comes here to play South Carolina for the SEC title. We are, you can be assured, going to hear much, much more about this surpassingly strange saga.
(Oh, and speaking of Cam Newton … a talented artist named MoonPie has re-imagined “Son of a Preacher Man” to fit these latest happenings. Take a look/listen. You’ll be glad you did.)
– Mark Bradley
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526 comments Add your comment
chainz
November 18th, 2010
2:40 pm
You just did honey……more sweet tea NOW>>>>>>>
Comment
November 18th, 2010
2:40 pm
Come on guys this is getting dirty and hitting below the belt – let’s all agree Au cheats and their academics are terrible. We can ALL agree on that even the War Eagles.
Aubie-won-knobi
November 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
I like mine with extra sauce please.
chainz
November 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
and you need more paper in the tiger room…..I mean Crapper to you edumcated girls……
Crumpy frisky on his birthday
November 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
ALLBARN TIGERS – DEAD MEN WALKING
A*uburn Tigers
AU FAN
November 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
Living Legend- “League” – “The League of Unemployed Gentlemen?” You can be Chairman of the Board , Sir. Nobody cares, you are what we call ” uneducated”
AU FAN
November 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
Legend, go play with your ass buddy Paul Finebaum.
Aubie-won-knobi
November 18th, 2010
2:44 pm
First of all Nachos. That IS something we can agree on. I am NOT in your dumb-a$$ league. For one thing I can spell. It’s:
“You’re not in my league” NOT
“YOUR not in my league”
Now, get back to that basket of fries. I’m not here to give you spelling lessons.
Crumpy frisky on his birthday
November 18th, 2010
2:45 pm
At least ALABAMA didn’t have to recruit(pay) to go undefeated, win the SEC, win the national championship, and the heisman trophy.
You barners must be so proud.
Do you girls cry when sCam does his post-game african tribal dance?
Aubie-won-knobi
November 18th, 2010
2:46 pm
My oh my..that’s a new one. A redneck Bama fan who is ALSO racist.
AU FAN
November 18th, 2010
2:47 pm
Did it hurt when you chose your screen name ( Crumpy Frisky ) really, this blog has gone down hill the past few hours. Must be all the trade school kids getting out early from class.
Aubie-won-knobi
November 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
Later adults. I’ll come back once the kiddies have had their sippy cups and are taking their afternoon naps.
chainz
November 18th, 2010
2:48 pm
AU fan Is that drunk chick you see puking in the trash can outside the stadium cause she can’t get a ticket on her tip money……More sweet tea …or you need a teabag……..lmao……..
Crumpy frisky on his birthday
November 18th, 2010
2:49 pm
Well this ISN’T a new one… a barner with no personality who is a total douche.
Comment
November 18th, 2010
2:49 pm
I love AUBURN, always.
Chi Town
November 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
I do too, they are really a good team underneath all of this
Nachos aka the 'Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
Awwwbarn football fans = cool as ice. See above
Nachos aka "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
War EAGLE, All day, everyday and forever.
blog patrol
November 18th, 2010
2:50 pm
You are under arrest..where did all the good people go.
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
2:51 pm
Alabama needs to fire Nick Saban, he just doesn’t have it anymore.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
November 18th, 2010
2:52 pm
Aubie-won-knobi – his momma need to check her facebook account.
He going to play video games and fondle himself thinking of Cammie.
DEATH PENALTY
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
2:52 pm
Where my AUBURN family at? I love you guys!!!! War Eagle!
wheelz007
November 18th, 2010
2:52 pm
And the Folks at Auburn wondered why they were only able to hire a guy with a 5-19 record….
Barnes war call
November 18th, 2010
2:53 pm
Good people on a blog.. are you kidding? Cheating, dirty rotten stinking barners are the worst.
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
November 18th, 2010
2:53 pm
Best days I ever had were at Auburn University, great people, great team. War Eagle!
The bucket shop in Buckhead = douche bag central
November 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
Too bad they can’t give that hell hole the death penalty
Nick Fairley
November 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
EVERYTHING that has been published Auburn has known about it well before the season. EVERYTHING. We may have the best compliance guy in the business. Auburn is clean but a few other schools may have some concerns.
Barnes war call
November 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
WAR EAGLE! We are # 1 !!!
wheelz007
November 18th, 2010
2:54 pm
Face it Barners, you got 5-19 Chizzit’s because no one else wanted to be a part of the circus.
AU FAN
November 18th, 2010
2:55 pm
Finally, another Auburn Fan.
Gene Chizik's short sleeve tank top jacket is hardcore
November 18th, 2010
2:55 pm
What will these losers do the next 5 years without their beloved war eagles/tiggers?
Play video games and be cool I guess.
Chi Town
November 18th, 2010
2:56 pm
Quit banning me, Bradley!
Gene Chizik's short sleeve tank top jacket is hardcore
November 18th, 2010
2:56 pm
I guess they will beat up on all us Bammers… WAR EAGLE !!!
Robert Gibbs.... lifelong Auburn Tigger fan
November 18th, 2010
2:57 pm
CLACK CLACK… Cam has won so many big games on the road this year…. He wont be fazed by those drunken fired up bammers. No worries right ??
So many bars to choose from Auburn, AL.... like the Mellow Mushroom and ?????????
November 18th, 2010
2:58 pm
No wonder only losers and fat chicks go there.
So many bars to choose from Auburn, AL.... like the Mellow Mushroom and ?????????
November 18th, 2010
2:59 pm
I love Auburn!
AU FAN
November 18th, 2010
3:00 pm
I am outta here, see you on rivals.com Too many children on this site.
November 26, 2010... the day AU Fan gets mad and breaks his Play Station 4
November 18th, 2010
3:00 pm
Lose to Alabama then lose your team to the NCAA…
Happy New Year barners!
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
3:01 pm
Later barners… see ya at the NCAA death penalty announcement.
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
3:03 pm
I will be the one with Nacho cheese all over my face drinking budweiser and my finger in my brothers ass.
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
3:09 pm
Where is everyone?
pecan log
November 18th, 2010
3:11 pm
Heard today MSU thought they had Cam in the bag because of Mullen but during the recruiting process Cam said that he was still looking at schools, so MSU offered the big bucks to get him to commit and he didn’t. In fact he freaked out because he knew the rules on that sort of thing. He chose Auburn and MSU thought he might report what they offered and decided the best defense would be offense by contacting the NCAA first which would put Cam on the defense and the media rolled with it. Things to consider…all the coaches at the other recruiting schools said nothing went down like that with them…NCAA and FBI is in MSU not Auburn or Georgia and Auburn hasn’t benched him or suspended him and he sure doesn’t act like it bothers him. Rogers did mention he called Bill Bell for money which is kind of looking like that was normal to look for money…Schools typically get in trouble for benefits not players…Looks fishy to me…just doesn’t add up…There is not one person from the school that has said they were there for the offer. I would think if the coaches were there they would be screaming about it…but they aren’t and the rest of the stories are just that…from unknown sources or sources close to the situation and John Bond (booster) Kenny Rogers (being investigated by NFL for misrepresenting himself) and Bill Bell (booster)…all money people… just saying…looks suspicious on MSU not Cam or Auburn.
chainz
November 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
Auburn…where the odds are good but the goods are Odd
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
3:14 pm
chainz- you are stupid man
Comment
November 18th, 2010
3:15 pm
Chainz- I like it. Good job guy
chainz
November 18th, 2010
3:15 pm
Nachos….Im’ sitting watching AU Fan clean tables and fill salt and pepper shakers…..
World News As It Happens » Blog Archive » victoryland
November 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
[...] Cam Newton and Auburn in the clear? Not so fast, my friend – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blo… McGregor is an Auburn booster and an associate of the infamous former banker Bobby Lowder. McGregor owns VictoryLand, a dog track located just down I-85 from Auburn. Message boards have been buzzing about a possible Newton/McGregor link for the past week … Nov 18, 2010 2:22pm [...]
Comment
November 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
Chainz- nevermind , you are a complete moron
chainz
November 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
and dont hide I see you workin the drive thru……
Nachos aka the "Living Legend"
November 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
Chainz- what do I care what you are doing???