Analyst dispels ‘hired mercenary’ narrative for legendary Auburn QB

Legendary Auburn football Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton was never a “hired mercenary” brought to the program to win and leave at a price says Opelika-Auburn News deputy editor Justin Lee — who told a fan as much who was implying that he’d push for the contrary, presumably due to some recent X banter from Lee about the program’s graphics department.

“No, it’s certainly a thumb to the eye to those who said Cam was just a hired mercenary who didn’t love Auburn,” Lee wrote. “They’re two coaches removed from his OC and he’s still loving Auburn And that’s something I was right about.”

Lee was referring to a tweet/X post sent out from Newton in support of Hugh Freeze’s Plains debut, and the impending Freeze warning in East Central Alabama and the rest of SEC country that will follow, on September 2.

Former Florida offensive coordinator’s crazy quote about Heisman winner starting over Auburn football legend Cam Newton

Dan Mullen, Florida’s offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008, Cam Newton’s freshman and sophomore seasons where he played six games total and had 12 passing attempts, said that “you better get the National Guard in front of your house” if you were to start Newton over Heisman winner Tim Tebow, a recent “timely visitor” to Freeze’s Tigers.

“Tim’s sophomore year, he wins the Heisman trophy and Cam is a true freshman,” Mullen prefaced before saying, “You’re looking at the situation and thinking, this Cam is really talented. I can’t wait to get him on the field, still young and still learning. Urban comes into the room after spring practice thinking it’s going to be a quick conversation says, ‘Who is the best quarterback.’

“You better get the National Guard in front of your house if you are going to play Cam Newton over Tim Tebow, I’m going to make sure everybody knows where you live.”

No National Guard members were called, and Tebow eventually won a second national championship as the starter. Newton knew that he wouldn’t start over Tebow until his senior season, so he took his talents to Auburn; the spark for the Tigers winning their first championship since the Vietnam War.

The rest is history. Rich, cherished history. And Newton seems to believe more could be on the way.