As Texas A&M quarterback and college football rock star Johnny Manziel tries to focus on football with an eligibility scandal hanging over his head, the young man they call Johnny Football got some advice from Carolina Panthers passer Cam Newton.
Newton, a fellow Heisman trophy winner at Auburn faced a spotlight very similar to the one shining on Manziel now. He was involved in a theft incident at the University of Florida that led to his departure from Gainesville, and also had assorted issues that led to NCAA inquiries.
Speaking about Manziel's current autograph problems, Newton said a mouthful.
''When I was there at college so many people wanted from me and I wanted to give so much,'' Newton said. ''Like I would sign this and give my time and this, this and that. And nobody was looking at it through my (eyes). If you say no to this particular person you are going to be a (jerk). You are going to be the person that people look at as, 'What's up? We came out here and supported you and cheered for you and you can't sign an autograph?' Never mind that you signed 300 other autographs before. But that's the nature of the beast.''
While Manziel doesn't project as well as a pro prospect as Newton did, Johnny Football's success on the gridiron at the college level is on the path to exceeding Newton's.
Newton accounted for 50 touchdowns in his junior season, 30 passing and 20 on the ground while piling up 4,369 yards from scrimmage. Manziel scored 47 touchdowns in 2012 during his Heisman campaign, totaling 5,116 yards from scrimmage. Making Manziel's year even more impressive, he recorded these outlandish numbers as a true freshman in the SEC, in addition to leading the Aggies past the eventual champion Alabama Crimson Tide in Bear Bryant Stadium.
Now, though, none of that matters if the NCAA decides Manziel accepted payment for autographs. If he is exonerated, he'd be wise to heed Newton's last piece of advice.
"For any college athlete you are vulnerable to so many things,'' Newton said. ''You think everybody loves you for who you are.''
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
