No “Bidding War” For Newton This Time Around

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Last week we told you that Cecil Newton has scheduled a media-only workout for his son on February 10.  We also told you that some NFL front office folks are worried about Cecil’s ongoing involvement in the Cam Newton show.

Now some front office NFL types are questioning the idea of holding a media workout altogether… and their choice of words won’t place Mark Emmert, Mike Slive or anyone on The Plains.

One NFL executive told Rob Rang of CBSSports.com the following:

“The Newtons would be best to realize they aren’t in college anymore.  Regardless of how good he looks for (the media), there isn’t going to be a bidding war for him.  We’re not recruiting him.  They could wind up turning more people against them than for them with this (workout).”

I doubt the last part.  Some NFL GM will fall in love with Newton and make him a top 10 pick in all likelihood.  But it’s the first part of the exec’s comment that is the concern.  Yeah, the part about a “bidding war.”

Now maybe this executive was just playing around or speaking hyperbolically.  Or maybe he’s covered college football long enough to know that bidding wars really do go on and that Newton was more than likely at the center of one.

Either way, this comment shows just how much damage Cecil Newton did to college football with his attempted cash-grab.  By holding his hand out, Newton took what everyone assumed to be going on and proved that it really was going on. 

By not penalizing Newton’s son for the actions of the father the SEC and the NCAA allowed Cecil to besmirch their image.  And nobody likes having their image besmirched.

As we’ve noted on several occasions, there’s still no proof that anyone at Auburn gave Cam or Cecil Newton a dime.  But the fact that Newton did ask for cash from Mississippi State — and Mike Slive and Mark Emmert chose to do nothing about it — left college football, the SEC and Auburn to take hits on their reputation.  As evidenced by this NFL exec’s use of the term “bidding war” in discussing college recruiting.

(And yeah, we know.  Cue the smart alecks: “How could their reputations be any worse?”  Buh-dum-dum.)