Cam Newton Investigation: If Cam's Worth $180G, What's Everybody Else Worth?
Cam Newton’s recent allegations have been frightful.
But, his 2010 season has been so delightful.
If paying college players is the way to go, spend some dough, spend some dough, spend some dough.
Unless you have been turning a blind eye to Newton’s latest rumbles, it is common knowledge that Newton’s dad allegedly requested $180,000 for his son to sign a letter of intent to play with Mississippi State.
In the world of football signing bonuses, this might seem low. If this amount is true, though, Newton’s father was either trying (unsuccessfully) to keep the amount under radar or his negotiation skills might need a tad bit of work.
However, no matter how you spin it, this $180,000 bid sets the bar for what a Heisman-caliber player is worth in the NCAA.
If Cam Newton is worth this much for one season (assuming he scrams after all of this hoopla), how much would the asking price be for the other NCAA Football superstars to play this year?
Let’s throw some arbitrary dollars their way.
Kellen Moore, Boise State: $80,000
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There is nothing more annoying than classifying a quarterback as a “product of a system.”
Unfortunately, Kellen Moore is a piece of the Boise State puzzle that is, to a degree, replaceable and would not be worth throwing too much money towards in a college recruiting black market.
Since the Chris Petersen Era began in 2006, every quarterback in his system (Jared Zabransky 2006, Taylor Tharp 2007 Moore 2008-2010) has completed at least 64 percent of their passes and thrown for a minimum of 23 touchdowns.
Paying Moore BCS conference money in hopes that his numbers translate against tougher opponents is begging for a negative return on investment.
Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson: $80,000
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You have to thrown in at least one defensive player when creating a list about buying out talent. A sack machine is just an important as an end-zone-hungry wide receiver.
Da’Quan Bowers currently leads the FBS with 13 sacks, and coaches would be lying to you if they said they didn’t want this beast on their team.
For some reason, I feel defensive players would go for a cheaper price in a back-alley deal, but it would be hard not to throw some money at a defensive game-changer when you had the chance.
A.J. Green, Georgia: $85,000
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Since A.J. Green’s return to the team, his impact on Georgia’s offense has been irrefutable.
Green has gathered a touchdown in six of his seven games this season, but throwing down a plethora of dollars on a wide receiver might not exactly be cost-efficient when you consider the percentage of times he touches the ball.
While Green can certainly be a game changer, he doesn’t lead the league in any categories, and that alone lowers his value compared to Justin Blackmon.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Andy Dalton, TCU: $85,000
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Andy Dalton certainly has the skills and mindset to play the quarterback position, but the lack of eye-popping numbers, put together with a rather weak schedule, has to raise concerns about how much this talent is actually worth.
Dalton is definitely the crux of TCU’s offense, and without him, their offense would definitely not be as explosive.
But, this Non-AQ success might not translate well into the BCS world, and taking a risk with this currency exchange could drive down Dalton’s asking price.
Colin Kaepernick, Nevada: $90,000
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While Colin Kaepernick certainly carries the “dual threat” tag like some of the other quarterbacks on this list, his numbers are slightly inflated due to the weak conference in which he resides.
Kaepernick easily passes an eyeball test when watching him conduct Nevada’s pistol offense, but worries about how his small frame would survive in a BCS conference could decrease his value in an open market.
Matt Barkley, USC: $95,000
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It’s hard not to bring up a USC player when you talk about a topic like paying athletes to play.
Matt Barkley certainly has that Hollywood appeal, which can be huge when trying to negotiate an underground deal.
Barkley is quickly coming into his own under Lane Kiffin, leading the Pac-10 in touchdowns thrown (25) and landing second in total passing yards (2,518).
The potential for Barkley to be a star on and off the field for a school could help drive up his price in an open market.
Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State: $95,000
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To say Justin Blackmon is Oklahoma State’s “go to” receiver would be like calling Richard Simmons “slightly” flamboyant.
Blackmon has collected 16 of the Cowboys’ 29 receiving touchdowns and his 1,430 receiving yards is almost triple the amount of the second receiver on the team.
However, throwing down an exorbitant amount of money at a wide receiver is as absurd as picking a WR No. 1 in a fantasy football draft.
While Blackmon catches approximately 9.3 passes a game (second in the FBS), this is not nearly enough touches to open the entire bank.
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas: $100,000
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There was a ton of buzz surrounding Ryan Mallett entering this season and it is hard to say that he hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Mallet leads the SEC in passing yards per game (296.7) and passing touchdowns (24), which is never an easy task.
These numbers, parlayed with his NFL-caliber talent, would put a hefty price tag on this quarterback.
Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina: $110,000
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Freshman running back Marcus Lattimore has been a welcome surprise for South Carolina this season.
His persistent production added a much-needed second dimension to the Gamecocks’ offense, leading this team to their first-ever SEC Championship game.
Lattimore needed very little time to get adjusted to SEC football, ranking in the FBS Top 10 in touchdowns (14) and attempts per game (22.4).
Against Florida last week, he rushed the ball an amazing 40 times, gaining 212 yards and greatly increasing any supposed black market value.
Kendall Hunter, Oklahoma State: $115,000
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Kendall Hunter might not be a household name, but his 16 rushing touchdowns (only one behind Cam Newton and LaMichael James) have certainly turned heads in the NCAA.
Hunter’s 135.6 yards per game ranks fourth in the FBS, and the consistency that he brings to the Cowboys is one of the biggest reasons they are posting an outstanding record this season.
Touching the ball an average of 24.3 times per game with steady point production justifies a payday in the triple digits.
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State: $120,000
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Once thought to be a liability because of his arm, Terrelle Pryor’s black market worth would take a huge raise after this impressive passing season.
Pryor learned to keep his eyes downfield when flushed from the pocket, and in the process, has set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns.
While his dual-threat abilities are not quite at Cam Newton’s level, they definitely would be good enough for him to earn decent money to play.
Landry Jones, Oklahoma: $130,000
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Oklahoma’s offense begins and ends with Landry Jones’s arm.
Ranked second in the FBS with 42.6 passing attempts per game, Jones has put up fabulous numbers (3,154 passing yards, 27 TD), largely due to this offensive load that he must carry.
Only a sophomore, Jones has quickly matured with the Sooners. This exponentially accelerated learning curve does wonders for his pay-for-play stock.
Denard Robinson, Michigan: $155,000
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Michigan’s triumphs this season are mainly because of Denard Robinson’s unbelievable ability to make something out of nothing.
Denard Robinson’s total offense numbers (1,417 rushing yards; 1,990 passing yards) are actually quite similar to Cam Newton’s (1,297 rushing; 2,038 passing). This dangerous ability to strike successfully through the ground and the air is something every coach covets from a player.
Paying a lofty amount for a highly talented, game changing dual-threat like Robinson would not be out of the question for any shady university.
LaMichael James, Oregon: $160,000
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The fleet-footed LaMichael James will make most head coaches drool uncontrollably. It is undeniable that every college coach in the nation would love to have James in their backfield.
James has made defenses look foolish this season, rushing for six 100-plus yard games and scoring multiple touchdowns six times.
A sub-par performance against Cal might have lowered his stock a tad, but James certainly deserves close to top dollar.
Andrew Luck, Stanford: $165,000
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Without Andrew Luck, Stanford probably would not be experiencing the spectacular ride they are on this season.
Luck’s leadership, pocket presence, and on-field smarts are all qualities that coaches desperately seek in a quarterback. Luck’s passes are also nothing short of heat-seeking missiles, and who in their right mind doesn’t love that?
If those talents were not enough, sprinkle in his ability to tuck the ball and run.
Because of all of these weapons, the well-rounded Luck would be worth a pretty penny in a recruiting black market.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
