Is Mass Media Trying to Destroy Cam Newton?

Updated: April 3, 2011

This week was a wild one in the world of the NFL Draft and college football news. HBO aired a special in which several former Auburn players admitted on camera that they indeed “played for pay” at the University. Former standout defensive end Stanley McClover was the biggest name on the program.

Now, why would this show air and why would it focus on Auburn University? Could it be because Auburn’s most recent QB Cam Newton is the most polarizing figure in the 2011 draft? Very possibly so. It just seems like a very thinly veiled attack on this young man during what should be his proudest moment.

Yes, even I in the past was extremely critical of the “pay for play” scandal that Cam and his dad Cecil Newton were engaged in. Everyone raised an eyebrow to the situation when it happened. But now that it is over and Cam has spoken to all 32 NFL teams personally, along with private workouts with the Panthers, Broncos (sorry Tim), Bills, and Vikings, why should pundits continue to berate this point? If he took the money then so be it. Auburn will be evacuated of their National Title when the time is due. It won’t have any effect on whether he gets the consistent accuracy to be a Pro Bowl QB or not.

Another story came out on Cam’s personality in which he was described as being fake and contrived. Really? How would a writer that doesn’t know Cam personally be able to tell that? Now I admit I have said in the past that Cam may just be a “big fat liar” but as of right NOW we do not know. Nothing has come out that has contradicted his story, no matter how much it still does not make sense.

Another story came out this week about Patrick Peterson. A trainer allegedly negotiated a “pay for play” deal with Texas A&M that didn’t go through. Though Peterson is not guilty of anything, it just makes you wonder. Between that and his single digit wonderlic score why do people still place this cornerback as a top 3 “can’t miss” prospect? What is so different between him and Cam Newton?

It is time to let Cam Newton’s past play out in the hands of those responsible for vetting Auburn University and focus on what really matters.