Cam Newton, legendary former Auburn Tigers quarterback and 2015 NFL MVP for the Carolina Panthers, has never been afraid to be a little bit out there when it comes to his play, his attire, and more recently — his opinions. Through TV appearances and interviews, including through his own podcast, Newton is showing the world how big his true personality really is.
But the Heisman winner’s latest take may just be wilder than anything he’s ever worn or said.
Last week, the Dallas Cowboys made negative headlines when infamous owner Jerry Jones parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy and instead hired offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who has never been a head coach in his entire career. The move was criticized and dismissed as ridiculous across the league, but Newton has a theory as to what Jones is actually planning.
According to the former quarterback, the Cowboys are tanking, or openly trying to lose games, in order to draft Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning with the top pick next year. But before drafting Manning, Jones would fire Schottenheimer and instead hire — you guessed it — former Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
“I think they’re tanking for Arch. Make it make sense. Coach Schottenheimer has one-and-done written all over him,” Newton said on ESPN’s First Take.
“Ok, why do you want one and done? You get the first pick of the draft…Jerry Jones is a businessman, and he’s going to get into his Don Corleone mentality and he’s going to give him a deal he can’t refuse. Who? Nick Saban. Go get Nick Saban as your head coach and Arch Manning as your No. 1 pick.”
Newton may be onto something when he speculates that Jones is salivating at the possibility of Manning as his quarterback. The newest future star from the First Family of Football is arguably the most well known player in college football and he hasn’t even played a season as the starting quarterback yet.
Add in the fact that he’s expected to potentially lead the in-state Texas Longhorns to a national title, and the intrigue is too much for Jones to not at least be interested.
But as for Nick Saban coming out of retirement in order to coach the Dallas Cowboys? Don’t count on it.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.