Florida Gators Better Off Without Cameron Newton?

What?

No...it can't be...but it is.

Not right here and now, of course. Not if Newton plows through the Gators in the SEC Title game if both Florida and Auburn win tomorrow. Not if he does it next year in Auburn, where the teams will meet.

And believe me, I loved watching him greet Dennis Rogan of Tennessee by impacting some newtons on him in 2007.

But those who disagree have to consider the facts:

Fact No.1: If Newton had stayed at Florida, he would be a senior this year, with little or no chance of getting a redshirt for the 2011 season. Meaning: he gets to be adored by Florida fans...for one season.

Fact No.2: Both Trey Burton and Jordan Reed are freshmen, and so far both players have done more than Newton did in his freshman year. Meaning: they each get three more seasons.

Fact No.3: Neither would be nearly as developed as they are now if Newton had stayed. Meaning: When it really counts (because let's be honest, this year is a rebuilding year even if Florida wins the SEC) they'll have each been through a run in the SEC, seen it, and know what it's like. Experience is even more important than talent in the SEC.

Fact No.4: Burton and Reed together are equally if not more talented and valuable than Newton. Meaning: Two great football players are harder to stop than one fantastic one. Put them both in the backfield at the same time, and the defense has to guess which of them is going to handle the football. When I say guess, I mean literally take a wild guess. If they guess right, then they still have to tackle whichever one of them has it (not the easiest thing to do). If they guess wrong, they're in serious trouble.

Fact No.5: Assuming that the Gators have a new playcaller next season, Florida can really open up the playbook, because, once again, these guys will have been through the SEC gauntlet once before. Plus you have to assume that they'll have improved greatly from spring and summer practice. Meaning: it'll be like having two Tim Tebows!!!

Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Tim Tebow was the greatest college football player ever (I promise, I'll take comments about that when I write that article, but not here). But when you have two players like him, not all that far behind him talentwise... add that with Demps, Rainey and Thompson returning for their senior years...add that with a healthy Andre DeBose and Mike Gillislee...add all of that with a new face or two that pops up out of nowhere every year... add that with a new playcaller...

Oh boy.

I almost feel bad for little kids watching any Florida game. They're going to keep thinking that Christmas is coming early every Saturday, because the scoreboard is going to light up like a Christmas tree every time.