Reality Is, NFL Becomes Pass-Happy League with Rule Changes

Once upon a time — to be precise — NFL legends, undoubtedly the greatest passers of all time changed the culture of football in the past decades, dating back to the ’70s when players committed to a much different style of play. The portraits alone are sufficient evidence of why football has blossomed into ultimately America’s game.

There was Bart Starr, a real role model for many children and arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks all time ever to walk onto Lambeau Field, who symbolized the Green Bay Packers and embodied a legacy as a big-time performer. As a country man from Alabama who morphed into the most clutch and roughly a phenomenal assassin in the ’60s era, he went down as the most prolific and all-time great ever to quarterback a franchise loaded with attributes.

There was Joe Montana, as good as gold, given the history of the Gold Rush in Northern California, wittily framing the medieval science of modern-age football, harassing defenses with his intellectual psyche and rifled-arm passing that brutalized defenses. He had the charm and mind of a quarterback and won four Super Bowl titles, an unprecedented three Super Bowl MVP awards and mounted as the unequivocal ruler of pro quarterbacks.

It’s befitting to pinpoint the moment he conducted one of the finest drives in NFL history, a heart-stopping 92-yard drive in Super Bowl XXIII and mastered an awe-inspiring 127.8 passer rating in four appearances of the much-publicized American sport. There was Johnny Unitas, one of the greatest passers in his era, and one can argue that he was a stud — especially in his first NFL campaign.

And nothing was more radiant than Unitas stringing together one of the greatest passing seasons in his era. We’ll never forget him as one of the coolest performers, a truly remarkable legend of pro football — a name acknowledged of the glamorous football lore. There was even Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys and Dan Fouts, who each combined for 14 300-yard passing games in one weekend.

There were even Terry Bradshaw and Brett Favre, reaching plateaus and shattering pass records and now lies as a pair of gridiron greats. At last count, Favre holds every single passing category in NFL history, from completions, attempts, yards, touchdowns and even interceptions.

It’s been years now since we’ve witnessed the rebirth of the passing game — and now we’re finally getting a glance at the modern aerial displays by elite quarterbacks to remind us that the pass attack has never receded but disappeared in a generation where franchises executed an efficient rush attack. It almost feels like Otto Graham has returned to the Browns and restored relevance.

It almost feels like a cliché. It almost feels like Sammy Baugh, who was said to be the most accomplished two-way athlete in the game’s history, has returned as the best athlete in the NFL. But even there are proficient quarterbacks these days, which is why the NFL has become noteworthy and publicly has drawn heavy appreciation. And there’s nothing more fascinating about Tom Brady and Cam Newton in this new development in the reemergence of the old times of passing formations rather than running schemes.

Brady is intelligent enough to realize, in the later stages of his accomplished career, that even well-executed passes could have a profound effect largely on the New England Patriots. In contrast, if Cam Newton had not thrown for a bevy of yards to prove NFL worthy in a town that took a gamble and selected him No. 1 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft last April, then he would’ve been getting an earful of criticism.

This was for those who’ve doubted and belittled Newton, stepping onto the NFL turf for officially the first time and playing as if he had years worth experience. Whereas his superlative performance elicited a sense of belief — the moment in his early career as a rookie that Newton has earned respect and secured a good reputation, throwing for a staggering 422 passing yards and two touchdowns.

The population in Carolina is delighted with new coach Ron Rivera, a popular face in the town simply for having faith in his rookie quarterback and letting Newton have an opportunity to dazzle and be a versatile player in franchise history. With his style and throwing motion, he didn’t only set a rookie record for a pro debut, but he uplifted the mood in an atmosphere that trust in Newton after bringing much fire and athleticism to Carolina’s offense.

The perfect debut of his lifetime happened last Sunday, and, hard as it is to believe, he played brilliantly, he played impressively and he silence many of his doubters. At a moment where the NFL would be a league built and orchestrated around the greatest quarterbacks, including a rookie who’ve astounded the populace, Brady and Newton could be the elites in this generation, though it might be too early to tell whether Newton will be the prosperous star at a future time.

The game has evolved so drastically and regularly with the generation of strong-armed quarterbacks. We live in an age of relentless pocket passers. The great ones are successful in today’s game, running spread offenses and tossing quick passes, thrown by accurate quarterbacks all while crafty running games are instituted to psychologically flirt with the mind of confounded defenses.

With the exception of the late Bill Walsh, a legendary coach with the mind of Albert Einstein, the West Coast Offense is a workable scheme that players take pride in and teams employ in their playbooks. We’re long past the ’60s and ’70s era as football generates a much different feel, particularly if the differences in style pertain to quarterbacks. That means so much that quarterbacks are, to some degree, duplicates of the old-timers and maybe it’s the explanation for football rising as the most popular sport in America.

The folks convince themselves that football is more than an annual event but an enjoyable event, a point in time when we disappear from our spouses for hours, glued in front of the television to embrace countless, action-packed hours of football. We love the quarterbacks as well, thank you.

There’s much to love. For one, Newton’s sudden growth and ripple-effect for a revamped franchise. For another, Aaron Rodgers is Lambeau leaping into the stands in his home stadium and has bloomed as a star for the well-respected franchise in Green Bay, which stands as the symbol of football for its glamour and legends.

The reinvention for Drew Brees is nice in the Big Easy, and then the Patriots are led by Brady, who passed for 517 yards and four touchdowns in the season-opener Monday night in a 38-24 rout over Miami. There are plenty to choose from. You be the judge. This is a reminder to all of us, and especially to the rest of the league that the passing game never rested in peace.

The evolution of a pass-happy onslaught has changed the game’s style as record-setting plateaus are higher than usual in points and passing touchdowns. While the numbers continue to elevate gradually, we are witnessing the growth of quarterbacks season after season, year after year and are compelled to devote ample time in being a spectator of the NFL, comfortable sitting in the bars all day Sundays or resting rear-ends on a cozy couch in the living room.

It’s been only a week, and last weekend marked the ninth-highest scoring weekend in NFL history. The postponement of the ugliest lockout in years never doomed offenses, and no teams were rusty in the season-opener. The bottom line is the NFL has become a pass-happy league. It’s a reality. By the way, the NFL knows its fans are seeking for drama and high-scoring contests, and the timing couldn’t be better, now finally removed from the malicious lockout.

Get used to it. The game has new rules and it caters more to the dynamic passing attack, which means we can anticipate passes more frequently. This wasn’t the scenario over the past decade when the NFL had developed into a running game, ruled mightily by skilled running backs. It wasn’t long after that the competition committee established two rule changes with a significant monopoly on the game and it opened opportunities for the passing game.

Defenders weren’t allowed to cover a receiver 5 yards past the line of scrimmage, and secondly offensive lineman were enabled to extend their arms and hands other than just blocking with grasped fists and brawny chests. What it did was protect the quarterback from getting slammed into the turf and even limited costly turnovers as quarterbacks weren’t under a tremendous amount of pressure.

This resulted in NFL teams scoring 21 points higher than the previous season, and teams had 15 300-yard passing games in which the passing game transcended instantly. The rules tend to benefit offenses rather than defenses. With all the rule changes, quarterbacks are awarded plenty of protection and time to be creative and fruitful in the pocket. A greater advantage is having helmet headsets that allows quarterbacks to communicate with coaches in the middle of huddles and plays as a way to adjust on a series of plays.

It turns out the rule changes, rather than the quarterbacks themselves, is the reason for the more masterful passing schemes. The NFL has changed for the better, certainly not the worse.

A Chance for Cam Newton to Prove Critics Wrong Is Now

He heard his name called by commissioner Roger Goodell, he heard the annoying draftniks chant boos inside the Radio City Music Hall in New York, and he grinned as he walked on stage dressed sharply for the occasion. No one knows exactly if Cam Newton will be a bust or franchise player in the near future, but the Carolina Panthers certainly believe so, picking the unproven quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.

There's no telling whether or not he'll be an immediate impact or an absolute waste, knowingly downplaying the unpleasant reactions from the rowdy spectators sitting in the balconies when the Panthers gambled on an ambiguous product in the draft. It's the same story heard every spring, a common trait on the status of an unproven player, especially if the quarterback is selected before anybody else in the draft.

At this time, we can only hope that Newton, battered by a grisly scandal after his father allegedly auctioned his son and violated NCAA rules, isn't another Ryan Leaf, Joey Harrington, David Carr, Alex Smith, Tim Couch, and lastly, the saddest bust in our generation JaMarcus Russell. So when Goodell was booed notoriously before he walked onto the stage and announced Newton as the Panthers' No. 1 pick Thursday, the boorish crowd gathered as the people booed and jeered.

There'd be a reason for Newton to dazzle and surprise the world that would vividly silence the doubters, an ill-advised prospect disrespected by the vast majority, discrediting seemingly the best quarterback in the draft like he's not worthy of elevating his throwing motion, unbalanced mechanics and accuracy. If he does adjust his weaknesses, delivering crafty passes and standing as an asset in the franchise to profoundly be a remedy and dismiss the futility, Carolina can end the painful deficiencies to slowly cultivate the fallen team.

Because he rose steadily throughout his collegiate career at Auburn, where he won the stiff-armed statue and guided Auburn to a national title, he cemented a flattering stature with his athleticism and brawny arm strength, including his versatility to boldly rush for yardage by utilizing his agility and explosiveness on turf when he is normally lethal. Through it all, he fought off adversity and stayed composed as a matured athlete with immense talent to endure fear and endless derision from critics who deeply revealed a sense of dislike towards Newton ever since a malevolent pay-for-play scandal surfaced during his greatest college season that bolstered his draft status.

As he avoided much of the torture from fans on an unexpected night at the raucous Radio City Music Hall where the crowd serenaded unpleasantly and jeered at Goodell, the fans madly pleaded for football next season. "We want football!" The night for the commish was painful, but not so much for Newton, although he walked on stage and had his photo taken as mixed reactions echoed throughout the building. And most importantly, after all, he is the Panthers franchise player for now. As for the folks in Charlotte, everybody wishes for the best possible scenario, confident that he won't ever be a bust and instead the godlike savior in a town that desperately needed a franchise star, someone the citizens can idolize.

When it comes to the mental capacity and the fiery nature he brings that inspires his teammates to fight with fortitude and readiness, proving his critics wrong as virtually a prime leader, Newton solidifies the humility and sacrifices his ego at the helm. It was fittingly a night for Newton, quite honestly, to silence the critics and perfectly prove the doubters wrong when the nation believes he's not intelligent enough to adapt to an NFL playbook, when the nation feel he's cancer with a series of off-the-field troubles and when the nation thinks he'll never develop to the pro-style offense. This was an unforeseen moment, a perfect timing to hush the disbelievers. This was for the haters who've said he'd never shine in the NFL. This was for the doubters who've said all week that he'll be forgotten come the draft.

What??

In theory of his status, he was proven to be the best quarterback on the boards in what was the craziest draft, filled with so much unpredictability and suspenseful ramifications. The No. 2 pick, as we know by now, was Von Miller, an explosive rusher after developing into one of the top sack specialist. When his name was announced -- strangely enough -- it was simple to reflect back on his anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, labeled as a plaintiff more than a monstrous linebacker.

With very strong emotions, he burst into tears of joy, speechless once he stepped onto the stage where he greeted and hugged Goodell proudly. The stunner came at the No. 8 pick when the Tennessee Titans foolishly picked Jake Locker, a quarterback who is injury-prone and even widely considered as a potential bust. With the 19th pick in the draft, the New York Giants were clever enough not to wastefully obtain a useless prospect that benefits the Giants in the future and selected cornerback Prince Amukamara, the son of a Nigerian chief.

So, he would have fitted nicely with the Kansas City Chiefs, too.

For weeks, whether the heavy talk has created a debate that Newton isn't built to play in the NFL, he was targeted by the Panthers and intriguing to first-year head coach Ron Rivera and the new coaching staff which doesn't have faith in the uninspired Jimmy Clausen. Many critics brushed aside Newton, presumably because the perception of the nonsense was that he never had the potential or intangibles to be a premier quarterback.

This, in the meantime, inspired Newton to play harder and thrive as a pioneer in the sport. Every time he was doubted, particularly in a program that represented the SEC, he responded such is when he emerged from the tunnel at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the Iron Bowl against Alabama last November and carried the Tigers in the largest comeback in school history to defeat their archrivals with a substantial 28-27 win.

"I'm ready to get this show on the road right now," Newton said earnestly on Thursday, moments after he was selected by the worst NFL franchise last season. "I've learned a lot from this process. I've learned that you guys in the media have a job to do in critiquing each athlete to his core, but at the same time, I have embraced this process and understand that everything is under the watchful eye right now. Nothing's going to change. I'm going to progress to be great."

And in this draft, with less talent in a diminutive quarterback core, standing out as the favorable prospect in the entire draft, he publicly earned the national spotlight. However, even if he is the No. 1 pick overall, Newton, a 6-foot-6, 250 pound athlete with stamina and agility, is facing much uncertainty in 2011. What is nice is that, beyond the idea of Newton being a probable bust, is that he has the opportunity, a wonderful chance to stun the world and ripen as a useful product in the Panthers organization.

What isn't clear, when all the speculations are unknown, is whether or not he's a bust. If there are believers, it's because Rivera and GM Marty Hurney speak highly of Newton and grasp a sense that he can excel with stiff expectations.

We can only hope that he proves America wrong.

Your Top Prospect Is Cam Newton, Despite Cynical Beliefs

The entire world by now knows exactly of Cam Newton, which can happen to be helpful towards his draft status two months from now. The first thing that comes to mind, as the nation suddenly confides in the gifted prospect of the 2011 NFL Draft ready to ascend to new heights on the pro level, is that scouts and executives are judgmental of a player's ills and poor choices in the past.

After all the corruption, all the fears, all the secrets and all the utter troubles that almost truly smeared the Auburn Tigers marvelous season with his illicit issues and hypocrisy to epitomize how badly the NCAA system is tarnished, he wasn't expected to be a common name mentioned to be selected in the first round.

He's now a humble-minded draftee and, as a result, is equipped to play and blend in well at the quarterback position by next fall, even more so prepared to contribute with a franchise in serious need. This would be considered an opportunity, a fortunate chance, a lustrous chance for Newton to soar in the NFL as an extolled superstar.

There he is, as expected, absorbing the attention longer than usual, almost coincidentally so, with the annual scouting combine beginning next week, the laborious preparations that challenges the odds of logic and physically, a typical theme to bring out the durability and audacity in the top prospects.

Inclined to make the transition from college to the pros, thirsting to excel at greater stakes for lots of fame and profit in playing the game they deeply relish, Newton declared for the 2011 NFL Draft.

As if this was a way to escape the inescapable of accusations of an alleged scandal that his father, Cecil, auctioned his son when he played for Auburn, Newton is a surefire first-rounder and rated as the highest of any other quarterback in the draft.

Whatever team selects Newton in the first-round, most definitely, he's anticipated by many that he is NFL-ready and can carry a substandard team to the next level, knowingly with the versatility, speed and awareness he implements in the game. Back on campus at Auburn, where he was relentless and turned around the program's psyche because of his leadership, he was a mellowed leader and handled the adversity calmly.

Had he chosen to stay in school, it would have been a great lost for the limited quarterback class when Andrew Luck opted to return to Stanford for his senior season after turning down millions. He took much abuse at Auburn, during a remarkable season that was absolutely the moment when he boosted his draft stock, for his father's poor judgment but wasn't held accountable or inflicted with a punishment.

As in any scandal, the NCAA probed the incident and easily ruled Newton eligible for the BCS National Championship Game, an awesome night for which he improved his status and became newsworthy for the NFL, only if the league doesn't encounter a repulsive lockout as the two parties would have to reach an unanimous deal on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement by early March.

At first glance, Newton is one quarterback with many weapons capable of rising and then impressing people as a rookie, a probable rarity like no other after drawing attention from delirious fans in the deep South. Because it's Newton, a competitor in college football last season who earned his notability by awful publicity, he is very well favored to be a rookie standout, raw and crafty to solidify whatever franchise picks him for their quarterback.

Whether he's proven or unproven down the road, more experienced and skilled to perform on the same turf with professionals and longtime veterans, he'll still be strongly projected to be a top-tier star in the league. But for now, in particular, if he desires to go off the boards high, he'll dictate when he lands by how brilliantly and effectively he competes in work outs and interviews for teams next week before the day he is drafted, even after he's still hunted by the stupidity and deceptiveness that happened involving his father when he ostensibly had no idea of his father's sins as a way to fool the unsound system.

By all accounts, plenty of players before his arrival to college were accused of infractions in regards to the disingenuousness and hysteria in college sports, from the sordid agents to improper benefits to overly workouts. So now, in clarity, he faces a slew of insignificant questions come next week, attempting to address painful subjects, which could disrupt his ability to perform in front of thousands of scouts or even focus for the tricky and rather difficult Wonderlic exam.

To think we debate, with clarity, on whether or not Newton will find success in the NFL, on whether or not he'll shift the dynamics, and on whether or not he can have an immediate impact in his first season, we can only find out when the combine ends, an event he plans to fully partake in. He said he wants "to be transparent" during the entire draft process. As of now, he is no longer an Auburn product, but the smoke from his father's pay-for-play scheme still follows him into the NFL, adding to the fire and could also lower his stock, even when he has an advantage simply for being one of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft, if not the best.

He won the Heisman award and fled Auburn when he declared for the draft, using his noggin to no longer face the scrutiny and trauma from the universities, he rewarded himself freedom and peace, glad to feel a sense of humanity, proud to reach a climax by turning pro and wishes to release the agony after revelations came forth that Newton clearly tried to receive $180,000 he solicited from Mississippi State.


What matters the most now, if he blows away scouts on the money-making days, if he does well in the drills and workouts to prove worthy of a first-round selection, is that he climbs beyond his potential and earns a righteous starting job in the NFL, regardless of his father's dreadful incident. This could be entirely a new turning point for Newton, though his crooked father almost ruined his son's chances to go off the boards in the first round.

That's appealing, particularly when executives and scouts from the NFL won't glance at Newton until late in the NFL Combine at Indianapolis, only because he's a junior. Meanwhile, he is incredibly quick and has stamina to stay balanced, blessed with the capacity and knack to last in the league for a very long time and has played brilliantly to deliver downfield passes or even race to the end zone.

He was, of course, the face of Auburn after leading the Tigers to the national scene, in which they prevailed to win the national title. Surely, he is a considerable size for a number of teams that have shown interest in Newton, knowingly realizing he achieved an education, eager to venture off towards the highest level in the game he truly cherish.

He is a talented prospect, no matter what the critics think of his father's scam or no matter if he vastly violated the rules for the accusations, with beautiful footwork and a rifle-armed as one of the greatest pocket passers discovered this era, the art of craftiness and natural abilities. Rest assured, he's not a resemblance of JaMarcus Russell or Ryan Leaf, which tells us he's not the next bust and we shouldn't believe so, not really when he rallies his team in huddles and always battle with toughness, urgency and energy, all the components of a team leader.

The next time he plays, in September as usual, he won't have to hear the criticism when the accusations won't matter to the pros, starting off with a spotless imagine and his father won't have to plot a foolish deal in order to qualify for a paycheck that remains prohibited in NCAA rules. But nobody had ever grasped the assumption that he only attended college for one reason, and one reason only. He attended school to turn pro someday and, in truth, it has suddenly happened after all the dismay at the end of his college career.

There is an NCAA investigation still pending, while teams have second thoughts scared to take a gamble on such a fabulous player, uneasy about investing millions with the possible ramifications in the making if awful evidence leak out from the investigation.

Remember, he was accused of stealing a laptop when he went to the University of Florida. And remember, he had an incident when he allegedly turned in a paper with another student's name on it. But in the end, we all make stupid mistakes, a boneheaded decision that we absolutely regret later in the years. As a kid, we all screwed up. So did Newton.

The honest truth is that the general public believes in Cam, which leads me to believe. "YES WE CAM!!"

This Most Prominent Trophy Will Be Given to Cam Newton

There has been everlasting talk of Cam Newton, arguably the best player in the nation, a singular superjock with godlike cleats for polishing as the greatest candidate for any award on the collegiate level, currently an adorable Heisman hopeful on Saturday when the prestigious stiffed-armed trophy is expected to be distributed in his favor.

On Tuesday night in Lake Buena Vista on the Boardwalk in Disney World, he realized that dreams come true at a magical locale, sporting a tailor-made black suit along with an orange tie and sauntered onto the stage in front of thousands.

The speculation of a distinguished star that was born in Auburn turns immense, after he was named the recipient of the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award, an indicator of which it could have been a preview of another gratifying evening.

If there's one way to relight romance in such a turbulent season, such as erasing the gloom of madness swirling around his image, it would be to win the Heisman in a landslide.

It's too often, in a sense, that an athlete's allegations or poor judgment away from the field is misguided. It's too often, in a way, that we ignore an athlete's accomplished feats on the field, as the disappointing missteps creates a ruckus to stain believability or even the university's reputation.


In the thrust of his scandal, he's not the most likable player, considering that the NCAA eligibility ruling relieved much uncertainty and enriched his Heisman status, allowing him to play without the system inflicting a severe sanction. It's easy to assume we can vote for the junior quarterback, the respected superstar and cornerstone at Auburn University, known as the famous legend in a town where fans lift signs that read "YES WE CAM!!"

The palatability of this annual voting is that fans have either rallied behind Newton or disregarded the sensational player, once the criticism of the NCAA's ruling left most of the nation in angst or disgust. Just this week, as we want to believe that Newton is beyond any infractions and instead an immaculate individual, he received 203 first-place votes, roughly 62.2 percent.

But the saddest issue of this special acknowledgement is that he was overlooked by 17.4 percent of voters, scorned dearly of his troubles to which he hardly bared a shred of specifics, given that skeptics had grudges and denounced his incredible breakthrough blinded by the negative publicity which could cost him the noble award. Yet increasingly, it's still imaginable that he acquires much commendation for such a monstrous season.

In the next month, when USC seeks relief for the penalties levied following the Reggie Bush investigation, the university won't ponder demanding an explanation for why Auburn quarterback was allowed a free pass or wasn't hit with sanctions. But from his success, he is expected to join the list of iconic legends in the past, even if cues from the NCAA present that Newton's father, Cecil, auctioned his son for money.

As an intense Heisman Watch so incredibly grabs our attention, it reminds us of the three other candidates anyway. Such are Oregon's explosive tailback LaMichael James, who recently just led the Ducks to an improbable BCS National Championship game; Stanford's Andrew Luck; and Boise State's Kellen Moore.

And, not surprisingly, James had been named the new Doak Walker Award winner. But he's really humbled for a greater opportunity, on the same stage in honor of the most glorified trophy and he gladly arrived to New York on Friday afternoon, filled with excitement and self-belief. With the Ducks appearance in the national setting on Jan. 10, millions of casual fans and observers will be introduced to James if they haven't already been aware of his rushing capacity, leading the nation in rushing yards.

"It means everything to the program, to the community," James said at a brief conference at the Marriott at Times Square. "We're going to the national championship. I think that means more."

Is he the fastest guy in the Heisman conversation? I'd like to think so.


Every so often, he's regarded as the foreign of college football, but it's hard to deny that he's a gifted runner. And the only thing in his way is Newton or Luck, despite that he set a school record for total touchdowns in a season (22), and led the Ducks to an undefeated season. Even as one of the nation's best, he's exactly embracing this moment with a modest attitude, willing to give the nod to Newton gracefully and thoughtfully.

"I don't care what happens off the field. Whatever that situation was, to me he's still the best player in the country," James said Wednesday at the College Football Awards media conference. "I would vote for him."

Even in a place like New York, where the media outlets are critical as well as most inquisitive reporters, are curious to ask Newton troublesome questions, such as details in relations to his veiling scandal. For once, his merit of worthiness for the prize that represents integrity veered when the investigation ended. Asked how he feels without his father in attendance:

"It hurts," Newton said. "That's the decision he made, he's doing it for the betterment of me, his son. I think that's a good thing. Whatever his decision is, I'm all for it."

He's as much an admirer of his father, even if Newton's father shamefully tried selling his own son as the most popular football star these days, acknowledged that he was unaware and had no ties or even communicated with any universities. Despite all of this commotion, he repeatedly alluded to that he loves his father, but more importantly, he wasn't distraught of his father's involvement of breaking the rules just to pocket money.

And again, in all genuineness, his father, Cecil, announced that he's not attending the ceremony as a way to reduce a distraction or worse a media frenzy on the night his son could celebrate a memorable moment in bliss if he is named the next Heisman winner. The festivities of this weekend, for all four players, is inexplicably highlighted by their outstanding performances to shine the spotlight on their schools, as Newton led the Tigers to one of its historical finishes in school history.

Not in recent memory, amid so much turmoil, has an admonishing quarterback from Auburn maintained the mentality or unflappability to lead the Tigers to an inconceivable 13-0 finish. As overwhelming as it seems that he's the frontrunner to claim college football's most prestigious award, ever since he was reinstated the eligibility, the suspense minimized vastly with Newton, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound player who has excellent stamina and agility.

This is important, on all levels, because of his nonpareil efficiency and versatility, proficient of making a defender miss in the open field. If so, from there, he's almost untouchable and becomes a force to be reckoned with. Better yet, he's a nimble pocket passer, always hitting a receiver downfield and certainly has been one of the most charismatic quarterbacks with strength to deliver in a prevailing pass attack.

In fact, as it happened, he leads the nation in passing efficiency, but is ranked 15th overall in the rushing department. And now, as Newton elevates his Heisman hopes to engrave a shred of history and hopefully put aside the burdens, he has run for a mere 1,409 yards and 20 touchdowns and has thrown for 2,589 yards and 28 touchdowns.

It was truly a season filled with a lot of disruptions surrounding Newton's status, but he played aggressively and energized the Tigers to clinch a berth in the grandest game in college football.

"I think he's the greatest one-year quarterback that I've seen in college football," said former Georgia coach Vince Dooley.


All over football, for some, Luck is the essence of an NFL-ready quarterback, but he's not projected to steal the Heisman, even if he's in the running for fascinating Stanford's vertical passing game. This is because, obviously, Luck is a factor as coach Jim Harbaugh elaborated on, flattered of his mobility and precision, all the essentials an NFL franchise takes a liking to.

This from a man who is eligible for the 2011 NFL Draft, nonetheless, he could potentially spend his junior year at Stanford if the NFL unravels and is afflicted by an ugly lockout. Almost as nice as it felt to witness a gunslinger, Luck is seventh in the nation in passing efficiency and he threw for 3,051 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Newton, one of the many quarterbacks on a unique level who is a proper candidate to place money on the table in a sporting bet, is the feel-good story which I believe the voters prefer a feel-good story.

Cam Newton Completes Astonishing Comeback To Give National Hope to Auburn

One of the truly nice things in regards to the Iron Bowl is that the rivalry matchup is the most intense, compelling rivalry in college football. The best team arguably in the nation is the Auburn Tigers, amidst the latest controversy surrounding Cam Newton.

Allow us to present to you the Tigers. In one season, Auburn renewed its prominence and raised the level of invincibility with national ramifications at stake, on pace to contend on the national stage for justifications of affirming validity.

Maybe all the Tigers needed was a convincing win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in an interstate match within a hostile boundary for national attention.

Hours after everyone consumed a heavenly meal at Thanksgiving feasts, a bout across state lines became the most ravishing event of the weekend. As expected, it was the SEC showdown Auburn fans waited for anxiously. They had been ready to witness the Tigers conclude an unimaginable mission in the SEC Championship Game come next week.

Early on, at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a scary late afternoon began once Auburn allowed the Tide to extend a demoralizing 24-0 lead.

From there, the Tigers were fortunate to still be alive by halftime, handling the adversity and early letdowns with their resiliency and intrepidity. At first glance, Newton enthusiastically darted from the visitor's tunnel for pregame warmups, all while two songs blasted loudly.

He couldn't remember the last time he celebrated so wildly, thrilled with another signature performance in a season when a scandal has stained his image, but amazingly hasn't affected his indomitable effort on turf this season.


For what he's worth, Newton wasn't anywhere near flawless a few weeks ago, accused of his infamous scandal involving his father, Cecil, a preacher, who allegedly sought money and violated NCAA rules.

At the end of the most important game of his life, he took a jubilant victory lap and celebrated his most miraculous performance this season, erasing much of his burdens and adversity—as winning cures gloom within an unbeaten program. What's more, in a critical game, he's a pioneer motivated by all the eternal triumph and disappointment.

And he truly rallied the Tigers from a 24-0 deficit to stun the crowd of over 101,000, as he pulled off a staggering 28-27 win over No. 9 Alabama. All season long, Auburn has been successful in the fourth quarter and has mustered plenty of memorable comebacks to salvage a promising season.

In each game, particularly this one, the Tigers made adjustments to reduce flaws and fundamentally manhandled their opponent in the second half, rebounding with perseverance and heart. This season, the Tigers have rallied in eight of 12 games, including four double-digit deficits.

It's fittingly a respectable trend when an ebullient, sturdy quarterback like Newton can maneuver a dynamic offense by his sturdy rush attack and throwing motion. As allegations swirl around Newton and Auburn University, the real explanation is that he has created a wonderful tale in the sport.

The notion of Auburn is the aura of their adjustments, execution and faith, components for such a beautiful season as a nation is drawn to the theory of Auburn's unexpected pursuit to BCS greatness.

On this day, like many other days, Newton was sensational and led the Tigers over the defending champs and archrivals, greatly protecting a wonderful season from ending wastefully. Every time he meets his opponent, he dominates on the turf by using his speed and agility. And yet a large crowd saw a confident and fierce Alabama suddenly crumble in a hurry and fall at home to the Tigers.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of this football team," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "This is a tough place to play and a tough place to win. But our guys just did what they've been doing all season. They just kept playing."

They indeed continued to thrive, snapping Alabama's 20-game home winning streak. Best of all, the Tigers are en route to winning their first national championship in college football since 1957. But apart from the historical feats, the Tigers are now one win away from immortality and earning a trip to the national title for a shot at the crystal football.

At 12-0, the team will earn praise nationally with a victory against South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 4 in Atlanta.

You've forgotten that Newton has played 11 spectacular games despite the scandal. You saw him keep his composure and endure the displeasure.

The other issue, in this particular game, is that Alabama's Greg McElroy's career-high 377 yards turned into a waste and he couldn't finish, getting sacked in the final minutes. It was also a solid performance by receiver Julio Jones, able to dust by the Tiger's secondary and account for 10 catches for 199 yards.

What's amazing is that Alabama's defense held Auburn to season lows in total yards and rushing yards, and still suffered in the end. By the end of the first quarter, the Tide had accounted for 187 yards of total offense.

There were times, of course, when the Tigers were sluggish and vulnerable and were held to 87 yards, minus-10 rushing in the first half. There was Saban apologizing for his team's poor effort and inability to finish the game strongly. As usual, he alluded to his team's mistakes and second-half meltdowns.

For now, it's good to know that Newton never took money in the Iron Bowl, but instead took over the Iron Bowl. How is that? He took over the Tide. How is that?

Cam Newton Evidently Might Be Innocent, Leading Auburn Closer To Nobility

This time, evidently, the nightmare of revelations weren’t drawing many conversations in Tiger Nation, a community in the South that has been mired in innuendo and uncertainty with the slew of allegations involving Cam Newton, the Heisman hopeful this season.

In one of the most exotic, tumultuous weeks of Newton’s lifetime, his presence was felt by the home crowd that lofted signs that read “Yes We Cam!” The more than Auburn Tigers win, the more a repugnant scandal disappears slowly of which winning cures all the troubles Newton is facing with the pending investigations and accusations.

“Like I said, he’s a really, really talented, extremely gifted football player, and he means a lot to our football team,” said Chizik afterward. “Again, I’m only going to answer questions more along the lines of pertaining to the game. By (Newton’s) performance, I felt like he’s done just about what he’s done in every other game this year.”

After all, however, he is academically and athletically eligible and as for his status, nothing has been proven which means Newton is innocent until proven guilty. But for now, it’s the hearsay and claims of the ongoing sins released publicly, putting his Heisman status in jeopardy. In the meantime, the Newton scandal revoked our consciousness in collegiate sports, but almost simultaneously heightened his celebrity in a state that relishes the game. What amazes the masses is that he is keeping his poise and calmness, despite all the alleged misconduct and distractions, still favored to win the stiff-armed award because of his unparalleled accomplishments this season.

If there’s any truth to this ongoing NCAA investigation, he won’t be forgotten but will be forgiven in a way. Until we know the truth, he is still the commodity of Auburn, a gifted football institution driving towards a national title. Now that they are on the path of brilliance, Newton and the university is facing much scrutiny for all what has elicited within a noteworthy program within the elite SEC conference.


The nation’s best player played with tremendous heart on Saturday in front of thousands and led the Tigers to a historic 49-31 win over Georgia. It is as if his life has never been in shambles, and now Newton is pretending that the confusion has never existed and has amazingly endured the invasion of the NCAA.

For all we know, he could be the cleanest, spotless star in the game and this scandal could easily be a slap in his face if evidence emanate that he never violated the rules. It was, however, a thrilling moment with an everlasting marathon, and historically, Newton had 299 yards in total offense and emerged as the first player in SEC history to throw for 2,000 and rush for 1,000 in a season.

In the end, he had two touchdowns in rushing, and two more in passing for a combine of four touchdowns on the evening thousands witnessed the modest quarterback polish with all the recondite reports that he cheated in several classes while he was a Florida Gator. As much as we want to believe that reports were leaked from his jealous enemy, maybe the allegations were made from someone associated with the Gators as way to spoil the Tigers’ adroit season. As much as we want to believe that reports were leaked from a senseless Gators fan, maybe the accusations were made from someone who figures that Florida’s hopes are on the line because of the emergence of Newton and the Tigers.

Few believe there is some wariness swirling within the Auburn program, with Chizik continuously downplaying and doing very little to resolve the hypocrisy and conspiracy madness. As usual, he fueled a bit of suspicion by clearly rebuffing interest in discussing the Newton infamy and took the easy way out when he was interrogated in the press conference, and only responded to short answers.

Throughout the perturbing obloquy, the University of Auburn has been silent and has refused to comment on the turbulence encompassing the school. At this point, the heavy talk is devoted to whether or not Auburn is worthy of accepting an invite to the national scene. At this point, the heavy talk is turned to the Tigers high-powered rushing attack, a common trait which has defined a burgeoning season in the toughest conference in all of college football.


At this point, the heavy talk is given to the Tigers for overwhelming the nation, preserving conversations on whether they merit every right to fittingly claim the No. 1 ranking in the nation over the Oregon Ducks. Clearly, he is the face of a dominant football team in the South, therefore he led Auburn out of the tunnel and stormed onto the field before the opening kickoff, waving his arms to energize the crowd that swung orange pom-poms, alerted and enchanted in witnessing a reserved and composed Newton.

All alone, he pulverized Georgia on the ground and carried the ball 30 times for 151 yards. At one time in the game, the Tigers trailed by two touchdowns, and still scored 42 of the next 52 points to exhibit its well-rounded offense that has been unstoppable. With 13 days until the Iron Bowl, most of the anxiety has fizzled out. At the end of the contest, he happily chest-bumped Auburn’s Tiger mascot, and he jumped into the stands to celebrate with the supportive fans.

Sharing the moment with the crowd, he slapped hands with everyone and he orchestrated the band and he smiled greatly, telling the world that he’s not worried or disturbed by the allegations. That’s because he might have felt some relief for a recent report that stated Newton knew nothing about his father’s ties with Mississippi State on Saturday. So basically, as this report brings out a bit of specifics, his father, Ceil, a preacher, carelessly tried to sell his son for a return of profit. His teammates seemed distracted, but Newton never had a worried or tense stare on his face and led the Tigers.

There’s much to like about Newton, especially when Tiger Nation only cares about winning football games. He is, certainly, the one player everyone applauded. After all, he resurrected the Tigers. There were thousands of fans crowding the streets as Newton walked by in the traditional Tiger Walk that lasts a half-mile. Without him, the Tigers wouldn’t be riding an impressive 11-0 season, on the way to the SEC championship game in a few weeks. For now, unless this commotion is true, he is eligible and will be Auburn’s guy.

As you may know, already, the fans were holding up signs that said “I stand with Cam.”

That is a good conception, until all the facts are released.

If Cam Newton Unleashes Truth, It's a Way To Tone Down Bombshells

If you think the sordid scandal centering Cam Newton is the ugliest, full-blown cataclysm, just as it reflects on his days when he wasn’t perceived as a contemptible jock or even in conversations to feasibly win the most prestigious award, you haven’t realized that he’s imperfect just like the rest of us. Otherwise, we can make excuses or underplay his poor judgment in the past, but now he is facing heavy consequences ever since his latest sins came within view, putting his Heisman status in tremendous jeopardy.

Earlier in the week, he was publicly exposed to horrendous storms off the field when allegations came to light in the recent bombshell that he and his father had a discussion about money. How utterly disgusting to uncover that Newton, considered the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy is absolutely the most scrutinized candidate in the nation. He’s obviously the epicenter in college football, already drawing negative publicity for an endless saga involving his shocking allegations.

Mind you, if nothing else, he’s the epitome of a spotless athlete who suddenly turns into a sullied individual. For all we know, though, he might not be such a huge burden at Auburn. Most of his tumult dated back to his days at Florida, in which a university source confirmed on Tuesday that Newton opted in leaving the university because of his academic and unlawful troubles. In prior history, he was arrested for purchasing a stolen laptop from a student’s dorm room in November 2008. And reportedly, he recklessly infringed the university’s honor code by writing his name on another student’s paper and turning it in.

What’s more, he was caught after the instructor questioned the writer of the paper, pondering why he had not turned in his paper. That said, after the student lied and informed the instructor that he turned in his paper, he and the instructor searched through all the submissions and noticed Newton had wrote his name on the paper. Not surprisingly, he turned in a second paper, but again he had violated the rules for plagiarizing someone else’s work after he foolishly purchased the paper off the Internet.

As a way to resolve his wrongdoings, he was to appear for a hearing before the Florida Student’s Conduct Committee in the spring semester of 2009 but rapidly ran from his transgressions and transferred to Blinn College. This is exactly what transpires in collegiate sports these days, mainly if the committee or trustees aren’t proactive in putting a halt to all the infractions. This is exactly why the gist of academia is ruptured because of the disingenuous and misleading allegations.

Instead of the committee enforcing a punishment against Newton, he was permitted to hurdle over the yellow tape of a repugnant crime scene. On Tuesday morning, Steve McClain, Florida’s Associate Athletics Director for Communications, declined to address the matter. “We can’t comment on federally protected records,” McClain said.

The mysterious case is spinning us around. The accusations of Newton academically cheating eased its way into the headlines less than a week following reports that former player Kenny Rogers claimed to represent Newton and allegedly sought $180,000 for the stud quarterback to enroll into Mississippi State. So in the meantime, it’s not telling whether Newton cheated at Auburn or anywhere else amongst a dumbfounded saga.

But it seems more than one person is guilty here as bits and pieces of the story still unleashes staggering eye-openers, unfortunately adding to the horror. All of this could lead to distractions and affect the way Auburn performs in the upcoming weeks as the regular-season trickles down. If Newton received money to play for Auburn or anywhere else, he’ll be viewed differently and probably would have to pay for his immutable crimes, even if he’s still beheld as the popular kid on campus after reviving a storied program in the South.

Gazing over the mess at Auburn, earlier in the week, the mirror reflected on Newton. There he is, the star quarterback, denying that he ever had three different instances of academic cheating while enrolled at the University of Florida and faced possible expulsion from the university. For a very long time, the NCAA has constituted rules and demands that prohibit college stars from being lavished with money, but a number of student-athletes are still outsmarting the unsound system by accepting money from slimy agents or cheating on exams, just so they can seek eligibility. Seldom have we gone a season without publicly hearing about illicit payments granted for college athletes, it seems, when it only continues to become worse as the years progress.

“I’m not going to entertain something that took place not three months, not six months, not a year but two years ago,” Newton said. “I’m not going to sit up here and say anything about it, whether I did or did not do it, because I don’t want to beat the dead horse talking about it. It’s not going to affect me any way, shape or fashion.”

Well, guess what? Sometimes you have to beat the dead horse as a way to come clean.

The anonymity of everlasting allegations has expanded into a heinous holocaust and has invited the FBI during a puzzling NCAA investigation with Heisman hopes muddled. All the university needed was the feds to take interest in this dreadful incident. But for now, reportedly, the FBI has asked to meet with John Bonds, a former Mississippi State football player who originally claimed that Rogers, a former football star as well, contacted him to inform him money would influence Newton to sign on a letter of intent.

These days, Auburn coach Gene Chizik, has shown much emotion, but he hasn’t been reserved about the ongoing reports.

“Cam Newton is one of the guys on our football team that has not only excelled as a tremendous athlete…I’m wasting my time addressing allegations that blow my mind that they’re even out there, because there’s federal privacy laws that dictate that these things don’t get out in public.

“I’m standing up here on a very important week trying to defend something that’s garbage.”

Even if we are clueless as of what exactly happened, it remains to be seen whether he’s guilty or immaculate of escaping the torture from the media and pending allegations. But we know that the duplicity of college football has tarnished possibly the meaningful season of Auburn, if not all of college football. Because all of this is staying within the SEC, commissioner Mike Slive has a severe misfortune to be reckoned with. Eight years ago, when he stepped in as the overseer, his intent was to ensure that every school rids probation, but as it turns out, it only has gotten worse. Once again, the SEC is turning into the conference of cheaters, sleazes and dumbasses.

Who is at fault?

Who really knows?

There are allegations all the time in the SEC.

“It’s unfortunate and sad because they seem intent on tearing down the reputation of a young man,” Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said Tuesday morning.

Ahem, excuse me, there are no enforcers in this, but enablers.

Apparently, Auburn doesn’t care nor does the SEC. It wasn’t long ago that Slive allowed Lane Kiffin to commit his violations at Tennessee before he fled the university and accepted the coaching job at Southern California. Remember that? This scandal leaves a mark on the conference and the frontrunner for the Heisman, not only bruising his chances to win the award, but also delaying what could be a potential fifth consecutive national championship within the conference.

As for Newton, he is guilty in the public view and has already been paralleled to Reggie Bush, the infamous former USC star. So now, all we want is the truth to avoid another misleading saga, which is why we hear Newton’s name in the media periodically. The sad thing is, his father, Ceil, is a preacher and has been the focal point of the investigation.

Come on, Newton. Deliver the truth.

For Cam Newton, Heisman Is on the Line, but Remains Top in Campaign

This has been a horrible college football season, overshadowed like never before by all the NCAA infractions and allegations involving popular names to stain a noteworthy season.

Between the fraudulent scandals and unsound formula in a watchful sport we are blinded to the positives in the game, particularly startled by the latest misstep circling Cam Newton, a frontrunner in the Heisman campaign, who is reportedly under investigation.

The latest accusations centers Newton ranked as the top-notch quarterback in the nation with arguably the deepest threat in the country. But almost simultaneously, the Auburn Tigers are causing anxiety not only for a storied program, but the SEC conference where the university poses as a problem.

Although it seems that the Tigers are unbeatable in a season when they might be on the verge to the national title scene with Newton’s rushing ability almost owning identical numbers as Oregon’s LaMichael James, he’s embroiled in an unpleasant debate while his team is on a possible run for a BCS berth.

The brand of scandals in the past makes it hard to believe anything that surface into headlines, and the latest hearsay in regards of portraying corruption is an ESPN.com report. As early as Thursday, it was clearly glaring allegations that Kenneth Rogers, a former Mississippi State player who claimed to be representing former recruit Newton, sought payments from Mississippi State to sign with the school.

If there is some truth that an associate of the Newton family begged in seeking payments for Newton to enroll at Mississippi State, the brightest star midway in the season could frankly jeopardize his eligibility.

If there is some truth that he foolishly accepted any improper benefits, it could presumably cost the junior quarterback his shot at claiming the Heisman award. The state of this crisis is unknown, although Newton’s father, Cecil, denied the allegations and said that nobody represented his family.

“It’s not true,” Newton’s father said Thursday night. “The allegations are completely unfounded, and we’ve retained an attorney. That’s all I can say at this time.”

We’ll soon find out whether this is a lie or true. Until then, he’s stuck in a lingering predicament with his fame and fortune in jeopardy, including earning the stiff-armed award. For what all seems inevitable, he is still highly regarded to be given the award and has been described as the most immaculate, athletic star this season.

It’s unfortunate that a dark cloud hovers infamously over a stellar Auburn season, a moment when the young stars are having an immediate impact on a program in conversations for clinching a BCS berth.

“I will say this very loud and clear,” Auburn coach Gene Chizik said Thursday night. “Cam Newton is eligible at Auburn University. Period. End of story.”

Normally, if a player’s eligibility is drawing uncertainty, the university decides to bench him until the problem is resolved. From this scenario, though, the Tigers national title hopes can dwindle by benching Newton.

This has been a horrible college football season, overshadowed like never before by all the NCAA infractions and allegations involving popular names to stain a noteworthy season.

Between the fraudulent scandals and unsound formula in a watchful sport we are blinded to the positives in the game, particularly startled by the latest misstep circling Cam Newton, a frontrunner in the Heisman campaign, who is reportedly under investigation.

The latest accusations centers Newton ranked as the top-notch quarterback in the nation with arguably the deepest threat in the country. But almost simultaneously, the Auburn Tigers are causing anxiety not only for a storied program, but the SEC conference where the university poses as a problem.

Although it seems that the Tigers are unbeatable in a season when they might be on the verge to the national title scene with Newton’s rushing ability almost owning identical numbers as Oregon’s LaMichael James, he’s embroiled in an unpleasant debate while his team is on a possible run for a BCS berth.

The brand of scandals in the past makes it hard to believe anything that surface into headlines, and the latest hearsay in regards of portraying corruption is an ESPN.com report. As early as Thursday, it was clearly glaring allegations that Kenneth Rogers, a former Mississippi State player who claimed to be representing former recruit Newton, sought payments from Mississippi State to sign with the school.

If there is some truth that an associate of the Newton family begged in seeking payments for Newton to enroll at Mississippi State, the brightest star midway in the season could frankly jeopardize his eligibility.

If there is some truth that he foolishly accepted any improper benefits, it could presumably cost the junior quarterback his shot at claiming the Heisman award. The state of this crisis is unknown, although Newton’s father, Cecil, denied the allegations and said that nobody represented his family.

“It’s not true,” Newton’s father said Thursday night. “The allegations are completely unfounded, and we’ve retained an attorney. That’s all I can say at this time.”

We’ll soon find out whether this is a lie or true. Until then, he’s stuck in a lingering predicament with his fame and fortune in jeopardy, including earning the stiff-armed award. For what all seems inevitable, he is still highly regarded to be given the award and has been described as the most immaculate, athletic star this season.

It’s unfortunate that a dark cloud hovers infamously over a stellar Auburn season, a moment when the young stars are having an immediate impact on a program in conversations for clinching a BCS berth.

“I will say this very loud and clear,” Auburn coach Gene Chizik said Thursday night. “Cam Newton is eligible at Auburn University. Period. End of story.”

Normally, if a player’s eligibility is drawing uncertainty, the university decides to bench him until the problem is resolved. From this scenario, though, the Tigers national title hopes can dwindle by benching Newton.

All season, he has been the centerpiece in a high-powered offense, guiding a paramount team into the national landscape, increasingly uplifting the relevancy at a university with sturdy offensive weapons and a coach in the running for a national coach of the year award.

As of now, it’s not telling what Rogers demanded of Auburn in regards of manipulating Newton’s motive of opting to enroll elsewhere. In many ways, Newton has been far superior among elite quarterbacks this season, single-handedly keeping Auburn in good position to bid for the BCS national title game.

At this point, he has the versatility and agility as a passer and scrambler and has thus far compiled outstanding numbers each week.

If it was ever glaring evidence, he would absolutely be perceived differently as not only a player, but a person. The SEC, by all standards, is universally verified as the toughest conference in college football, and it would be a misguided theory to discount Newton’s success on the field, despite yet another unfortunate, unbearable accusation.

But now, the scorching news across the NCAA is Newton. Not surprisingly, he is the talk, but surprisingly we are not talking about his 1,500 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing while amassing 30 touchdowns.

Instead, on the other hand, we are talking about an ugly scandal that continuously causes havoc at an illustrious university. In terms of history that has been engraved in the SEC this season alone, he is clearly the most dazzling quarterback in the deepest conference ever.

What’s more, he’s a priceless piece in Auburn’s framework, posing as an efficient and productive star in the South and traditionally building upon a legacy at a famous program. The folksy people in parts of the smaller towns near Auburn are embracing Newton, confident that he can lead the Tigers to an unbeaten season and play on the biggest stage.

Though some are frowning and remain worried about the uncertainty of the pending allegations, he is still a likable athlete and has bloomed as a local icon in a community embracing its football.

About a few weeks ago, you could have argued that he wasn’t worthy of the Heisman. But apparently he’s clearly worthy of winning the Heisman, particularly if his name is cleared of any infractions. He’s the spotless athlete everyone loves to appreciate.

Like the rest of us, he’s denying the allegations but is concerned with leading his teammates during a season of improbability. Maybe he’ll win the Heisman by a large margin, when he has carried the ball 168 times for 14 touchdowns and has been on pace to emerge as the second player in NCAA history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in one season.

Maybe they cannot play without Newton, who truly believes he has done nothing wrong and has been honest since the accusations were acknowledged.

Now that he’s linked to the ugliest mess in football, he’s still one of the best in the game today. As for most fans, they are pretty skeptical and optimistic, reluctant in believing this ongoing saga.

With the Iron Bowl coming ever so quickly, the pending investigation can not only diminish his Heisman votes but also bring forth distractions in a pivotal meeting with Alabama and in the SEC championship game.

Then again, it may even inspire Newton to play a bit harder and come out with a different mentality.


All season, he has been the centerpiece in a high-powered offense, guiding a paramount team into the national landscape, increasingly uplifting the relevancy at a university with sturdy offensive weapons and a coach in the running for a national coach of the year award.

As of now, it’s not telling what Rogers demanded of Auburn in regards of manipulating Newton’s motive of opting to enroll elsewhere. In many ways, Newton has been far superior among elite quarterbacks this season, single-handedly keeping Auburn in good position to bid for the BCS national title game.

At this point, he has the versatility and agility as a passer and scrambler and has thus far compiled outstanding numbers each week.

If it was ever glaring evidence, he would absolutely be perceived differently as not only a player, but a person. The SEC, by all standards, is universally verified as the toughest conference in college football, and it would be a misguided theory to discount Newton’s success on the field, despite yet another unfortunate, unbearable accusation.

But now, the scorching news across the NCAA is Newton. Not surprisingly, he is the talk, but surprisingly we are not talking about his 1,500 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing while amassing 30 touchdowns.

Instead, on the other hand, we are talking about an ugly scandal that continuously causes havoc at an illustrious university. In terms of history that has been engraved in the SEC this season alone, he is clearly the most dazzling quarterback in the deepest conference ever.

What’s more, he’s a priceless piece in Auburn’s framework, posing as an efficient and productive star in the South and traditionally building upon a legacy at a famous program. The folksy people in parts of the smaller towns near Auburn are embracing Newton, confident that he can lead the Tigers to an unbeaten season and play on the biggest stage.

Though some are frowning and remain worried about the uncertainty of the pending allegations, he is still a likable athlete and has bloomed as a local icon in a community embracing its football.

About a few weeks ago, you could have argued that he wasn’t worthy of the Heisman. But apparently he’s clearly worthy of winning the Heisman, particularly if his name is cleared of any infractions. He’s the spotless athlete everyone loves to appreciate.

Like the rest of us, he’s denying the allegations but is concerned with leading his teammates during a season of improbability. Maybe he’ll win the Heisman by a large margin, when he has carried the ball 168 times for 14 touchdowns and has been on pace to emerge as the second player in NCAA history to pass for 20 touchdowns and rush for 20 touchdowns in one season.

Maybe they cannot play without Newton, who truly believes he has done nothing wrong and has been honest since the accusations were acknowledged.

Now that he’s linked to the ugliest mess in football, he’s still one of the best in the game today. As for most fans, they are pretty skeptical and optimistic, reluctant in believing this ongoing saga.

With the Iron Bowl coming ever so quickly, the pending investigation can not only diminish his Heisman votes but also bring forth distractions in a pivotal meeting with Alabama and in the SEC championship game.

Then again, it may even inspire Newton to play a bit harder and come out with a different mentality.