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Cam Newton Scandal: FBI Joins Recruitment Investigation of Auburn Heisman Hopeful
Auburn quarterback Cameron Newton, Sept. 18, 2010 (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) The Federal Bureau of Investigation has requested a meeting with John Bond, former Mississippi State football player and key figure in the college recruiting scandal surrounding Heisman Trophy hopeful Cam Newton, say reports.
According to Bond, a man who said he represented the Auburn University quarterback during his recruitment out of junior college last year, apparently asked for a reported $180,000 to secure Newton's commitment to Mississippi State, reports TMZ.com.
"During the 2009 football season, I was contacted by a former football teammate, who represented to me that he was speaking for the Newton camp," Bond said in a statement given to the AP through his attorney. "He told me that Cam Newton wanted to play at Mississippi State, but that a specified payment would have to be made."
Bond's attorneys claim the FBI asked for a "sit-down meeting" with his client, saying they were "interested in whether young men are being shopped to colleges," according to TMZ.com.
Newton transferred from the University of Florida where he was facing a possible expulsion for academic cheating, to Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas where he played last season, according to ESPN.com.
Newton has denied any wrongdoing in his recruitment.
"I'm not going to entertain something that took place not three months, not six months, not a year but two years ago," Newton said Tuesday. "I'm not going to sit up here and say anything about it, whether I did or did not do it, because I don't want to beat a dead horse talking about it. It's not going to affect me any way, shape or fashion."
His coach, Gene Chizik, seemed to share that same sentiment hours before ESPN posted the story regarding Newton's alleged academic cheating, calling the report "pure garbage."
Newton has led Auburn University to a (10-0) record this season, lifting the Tigers to the No. 2 ranking in The Associated Press poll and the No. 2 spot in the most recent Bowl Championship Series standings.
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