I keep hearing Trooper Taylor's name being mentioned in this also. Wasn't he involved in some scandal at Tennessee?
I think the obvious. I think that if a guy holds himself to be a Christian preacher, with all that implies, and somebody falsely accuses his son of this kind of deed, and then he doesn't pull an Al Sharpton on national tv; then that's all any of us really need to know, about what's going on. I just don't know how you get around the Rev. Newton's inaction. Cecil Newton's ducking of the question is a ROARING answer. As for Ms. St. If I was there and knew that Newton's people had asked for money, and reported it to the SEC as was proper, and then watched while the SEC failed to do anything about it while this unbeaten season was being laid out by Auburn, I'd have done the same dang thing. I don't blame those folks one bit.
Cecil Newton went on the infamous Finebaum's show and claimed that (paraphrasing) the whole mess is a tissue of lies from a conspiracy that wants to see his son fail. I just have a hard time taking him seriously at that point.
First of all, i'm not going to crack on Cam, but it's open season on his pops. I'm sure everyone is just going out of their way to see him fail. Being that he is an Atlanta preacher, doesn't do him any justice. Wonder if he is friends with Bishop Eddie Long.
Rogers: Cecil Newton put price on son EmailPrintComments ESPN.com news services Kenny Rogers, the former Mississippi State player who ESPN.com reported allegedly sought money to sign Cam Newton to a national letter of intent with Mississippi State, said Thursday that Newton's father, Cecil, put a price tag on his son. Rogers, in an interview with ESPN 103.3 in Dallas, was asked if Cecil Newton ever told him how much money it would take to get his son to play for Mississippi State. "Yes he did," Rogers said. Asked how much, he said: "Anywhere between $100,000 and $180,000." Later in the interview, Rogers said he and Cecil Newton first talked after Cam Newton left Florida following the 2008 season. In the course of their conversations, he said Cecil Newton told him "it's not gonna be free this time." Rogers said he only was involved with Cecil Newton about Mississippi State. Rogers said on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2009, he and Cecil Newton followed each other out of Starkville, Miss., after the Ole Miss-Mississippi State game. He said Newton asked him: "What do you think is going to happen? You think it's going to go through? " He said he was referred to a Mississippi State booster named Bill Bell. Rogers said he left Bell a message telling him he was with Mr. Newton, who wanted to know if the deal was going to happen. Bell has not commented publicly on the allegation. Rogers said he didn't know if Cam Newton knew about the request for money. He said he did not meet Cam Newton until Nov. 27, 2009. Rogers said he didn't know anything about Newton's recruitment at Auburn, or any other school. He said he had "no idea" why Newton chose Auburn and had no idea if Auburn paid Newton. Rogers spoke with his attorney on the phone. The attorney, Doug Zeit, said there was never any discussion about Rogers getting paid out of the money Cecil Newton was asking. Mississippi State officials declined comment on Rogers' interview Thursday. A person who answered the telephone at Cecil Newton's home in Atlanta said he wasn't there. The person said he didn't know where Cecil Newton was. Auburn declined comment through spokesman Kirk Sampson. Last Friday, in an interview with ESPN 103.3 FM in Dallas, Rogers denied having solicited Newton to Mississippi State. Earlier this week, ESPN reported that two sources who recruit for Mississippi State said that Cecil and Cam Newton, in separate phone conversations, told them that Cam Newton's college choice would be part of a pay-for-play plan. Prior to Newton's commitment to Auburn, one of the recruiters said Cecil Newton told him it would take "more than a scholarship" to bring his son to Mississippi State, a request the source said the school would not meet. Cecil Newton also referred the recruiter to a third person who would provide more specifics, the source said. After Newton committed to Auburn, another source said an emotional Cam Newton phoned another recruiter to express regret that he wouldn't be going to Mississippi State, stating that his father, Cecil, had chosen Auburn for him because "the money was too much." Mississippi State compliance officials relayed the alleged conversations to Southeastern Conference compliance officials in January, according to two other sources close to the football program. The school said that because of it didn't get information requested to the SEC until July 2010 because of "time-consuming eligibility issues involving non-football matters in the winter and spring of 2010." The NCAA is investigating allegations surrounding the Newtons in regards to the recruiting process. Cam Newton, who is having a Heisman-caliber season for No. 2 Auburn, declined comment. A week ago, ESPN.com reported that a man who said he represented Newton allegedly was soliciting a six-figure payment to secure his signature on a national letter of intent. Former Mississippi State quarterback John Bond told ESPN.com a teammate of Bond's at Mississippi State in the early 1980s contacted him soon after Newton's official visit to Mississippi State during the Ole Miss game in December, and said he was representing Newton. Sources told ESPN.com the former teammate was Rogers, who played at Mississippi State from 1982 to '85. Bond said an NCAA investigator came to Mississippi to meet with him in early September, as well as with Mississippi State officials. When interviewed by ESPN.com last Thursday at the family's home in Atlanta, Cecil Newton denied any wrongdoing. Rogers has a company called Elite Football Preparation, which holds camps in Alabama, Chicago and Mississippi, and matches football prospects with colleges. Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com's Pat Forde, Mark Schlabach and Chris Low is included in this report. I think it's clear his father was running the show. Cam never wanted to go to auburn as he had stated he would rather be a gator before this whole scandal.
Rogers came out with interview on espn radio in dallas today and said Cecil said 'it aint gonna be free this time" when Cam left UF referring to Cam's choice of new school. Also a booster at Miss St named Bell was involved somehow in talks. Rogers said today that Newton wanted between 100 and 180k to go to a school. Rogers claims to be a guy that helps troubled kids get back to a school out of the kindness of his heart with no fee. He sounds like a scumbag, but he is throwing Cecil Newton under the bus (rightfully so) to try and save his butt. More rats jumping from ship, stay tuned.
I listened to the interview with Rogers on the way home from work today. Ian Fitzsimmons did a good job with the interview. Your analysis of Rogers is spot on IMV. Auburn appears to be screwed.
You know doesnt this boil down to ONE single issue. DID Auburn pay money (or a booster) to Cam Newton or his family for his commitment to Auburn. If the answer is NO or not able to prove it, isnt the rest of this all academic ??? I mean if Auburn didnt pay any money, someone saying things means little. In my opinion. Auburn is NOT screwed unless a booster for Auburn or Auburn itself actually gave money or a service for his signature. If the answer is NO or Cannot prove it. This whole thing is a waste of energy.... Someone trying to sell his services, or saying things about wanting money means Nothing. Unless someone actually did it... That is no different than some drunk uncle running his mouth. Again I am not saying there isnt a fire here. I am just saying it really boils down to ONE simple truth. .Did Auburn or a booster pay.
A couple of old sayings come to mind. #1 Where there's smoke, there's fire #2 If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck . . . .
Someone in Atlanta go by Newton's church and see if it is being fixed up. When this story 1st broke it was said the church had numerous fire code issues and was about to be condemned. Since signing at Auburn they supposedly came into some money to fix the place up...
