Report: Booster Received Payment Plan for Newton
Nov 17, 8:57 PM (ET)
By The Associated Press
Mississippi State booster Bill Bell told ESPN.com that he received a payment plan designed to get Cam Newton to sign with the Bulldogs from a man who said he represented the quarterback's father.
Bell, a former Mississippi State player, said Kenny Rogers sent him a text message outlining a payment schedule that included $80,000 on the day Newton signed, $50,000 30 days later and $50,000 30 days after that. Rogers, who has worked for an agent, is also a former Mississippi State player.
"When he asked for it, it was like 'Bam!"' Bell said in the report. "He told me this kid's dad is going to want money and the next day he sent me a text message. He didn't say anything other than 'This is what I want and I want it in three installments."'
Cam Newton, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, eventually signed with Auburn. The second-ranked Tigers (11-0) have clinched a berth in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
Calls from The Associated Press to Bell, Cecil Newton and Rogers' attorney were not immediately returned......
"(Cecil Newton) didn't come out and say, 'I want $180,000,"' Bell said in the report. "He inferred it and talked about it, but not directly. Kenny would talk about it in front of him, and (Cecil Newton) never corrected him or said, 'No, that's not what we're doing."'
Bell said the initial contact to him was made by Rogers. But Bell said he also had several conversations with Cecil Newton during his son's recruitment.
"He said it was going to take more than just a relationship with (Mississippi State coach) Dan Mullen and that Cam's relationship with Mullen wasn't what Mullen thought it was," Bell said. "That's when he said, 'Dan Mullen is going to have to put a smile on my face if he thinks he's going to get my son."'....
