NFL Draft 2011: Why I Wouldn't Draft Cam Newton or Nick Fairley

Every year there are phenomenal players entering the draft. Some go higher than others, some succeed, some bust and some you should just steer clear of. 

Nick Fairley and Cam Newton are two of these players. 

I know what you're thinking: "Hey, this guy's page says he's a Georgia fan, he's just hating on two great athletes." And that is not the case at all. NFL teams should seriously think things over before they draft either of these two players. We both know these guys have some issues. 

I'll start with Cam. The Heisman trophy winner broke out this year and blew people away with this ability to run over around and through defenses.  

But all the allegations and investigations that centered around him this past season concern me, and should concern NFL teams. Does an organization really want this guy and his father causing controversy and unwanted attention?

Who's to say Cecil won't show up at practice all the time and pimp his son to coaches, sponsors or heck, even to reporters?

I'm not saying that Cam is a bad person, but it's obvious he's got a little baggage. And I wouldn't want that on my team. I'm not saying Cam definitely did wrong, but do you honestly believe he didn't know anything about his father's pimping? 

Think about it, if you were him and you turned the TV on and heard all this crap about pay for play and supposedly this is the first time you're hearing about it, you wouldn't call your dad up and say, "Hey pops, what the heck have you been doing?" Or even, "Please dad, have you seen me play, I'm worth at least a quarter mil!" 

Another thing about Cam is that he's just a one and done. Did we really see enough from him this year to lock him into being a top 10 guy? Or even a first rounder? 

In no way am I knocking Cam's ability to play football. He's a tremendous athlete and a great playmaker. But taking a mobile quarterback early in the draft is super risky. Cam will have much to prove during the combine and his pro day. 

There are too many unanswered questions about his throwing that makes me pass on him. It's tough to say he translates immediately to the NFL. And if you pick a skill position player in the first round, then you need to believe 100 percent that he is NFL-ready. Newton may be a beast of a man, but size alone does not make him a quarterback NFL ready. 

The main reason I would not take Nick (un)Fairley is simply that—he is a dirty player. Sure, I want the guys on my team to play tough and physical and make big hits. But I don't want a guy who has countless late hits on players, appearing to try and hurt them.

I know you're reading this and saying, "Oh, it's just a bitter Georgia fan." And that's not it at all. I go by what I see, and on Monday Nick Fairley got his cheap shot in one last time in college. Fairley shoved the facemask of LaMicheal James, almost like he was slapping him in the face. 

That kind of play won't fly in the NFL, and teams have noticed it all year long. They'll evaluate his character closer to the draft and perhaps take a pass on him. There are several excellent defensive lineman in this year's draft. 

Fairley reminds me a little bit of Albert Haynesworth, a big nasty guy who loves to disrupt the offense—also a guy with off-field issues.

Don't be surprised if Fairley holds out too long and maybe misses some of training camp because he wants a ton of money. And don't be surprised if in five years his work ethic has diminished. 

Once again, I'm not knocking his ability to play. I know the guy is an incredible football player. He's going to go in the top five of the draft. It's a given. But teams should beware of his character issues and think twice before drafting the talented player.