We all know about the pay-for-play scandal that Cam Newton's father, Cecil Newton, attempted to arrange for his son. In an interview with the Charlotte Observer Cecil said he doesn't want that event to define him:
What was in print didn't totally define who I am as a person or as a father. And I'm confident over time that will be revealed through our (charitable) foundation and through a lot of our efforts.
If that's the case then what else has he said or done that would give us insight into who he is as a person. After the break I have two examples that give me pause.
One of the first items I found was at the end of the same article:
He's played for so long for free that anything we make, man, is a blessing.
I realize I could be making a mole hill into a mountain, but I don't like what the phrase "we make" implies. I don't believe Cecil will be doing anything to earn the money that Cam will be making. I have no doubt that Cam will assist his family financially, but to blatantly say "we make" doesn't right to me.
Another item I found was back at the Auburn Championship game. Cam searched for his father in the crowd to share an embrace. While it shows Cam and his father are still close regardless of the scandal, it was also reported that Auburn and Cecil had agreed that he would not be in attendance to the game.
Again, maybe I'm reading too much into this but obviously not following through on a commitment in the middle of a scandal doesn't instill confidence in me that he will stay out of his Cam's way when needed.
It should probably be mentioned that Cecil Newton is the bishop for a small church denomination in Georgia and I did find this article attempting to put all of this into context, yet I'm not over confident the impact that his father will have on Cam's professional development will be positive. Hopefully we don't have to revisit this issue in a year with more "what was he thinking" or "why did he do this" posts.
In the end, I hope Cam has a strong supporting cast as he makes his transition his professional NFL career. I can't imagine the challenges any athlete faces, but I do know that with any life changing events having the right people to confide in can mean the world of difference.
What's your take? Am I reading too much into his actions and words or do you have any concerns about Cecil's role?