Cam Newton, LaMichael James, Kellen Moore, Andrew Luck Heisman finalists

[JonLP24]

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Oregon running back LaMichael James, two of the nation's most dynamic players, will meet in the national championship game next month.

First, a stop in New York.

Newton and James were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday, and will be joined by Stanford's Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore of Boise State for Saturday's announcement in Times Square.

Newton overcame a pay-to-play scandal with a superb season on the field, piling up nearly 4,000 combined yards and 49 touchdowns in leading the top-ranked Tigers into the Jan. 10 national championship game.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5892523

[KamaAina]

1. Good choices

although I suspect that Messrs. James, Moore and Luck will be there to add a little class to the nice swanky banquet.

[Elwood P Dowd]

2. James beats the hell out of his girlfriend, and that is class?

The tabloid sports media hell bent on destroying Cam Newton says almost nothing about this dirtbag James.

[KamaAina]

8. News to me

Nike Oregon must have a hell of a PR department. Reminds me of the time Colt Brennan's checkered past, which had been carefully kept out of the Hawai'i media, surfaced when he was in Heisman contention.

So strike him. Maybe the Steelers will draft him so he can line up behind Rapelisberger. :eeys:

[RT Atlanta]

4. please enlighten us on what you mean by "class"

and the insinuation that Cam is apparently lacking in your opinion.

[KamaAina]

7. I was not insinuating anything about Cam

merely that Moore and Luck (though apparently not James) bring some, too.

[underpants]

3. Sports talk radio is all over Luck but Newton is clearly the best player this year

he may not win it because of all the obvious cheating that went on but he is clearly the best player this year.

[Upton]

6. Sports radio is talking about Luck..

because he'll probably be the #1 pick if he declares for the draft.

[Upton]

5. Cam Newton left off at least six Heisman ballots..

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/12/cam-newton-heisman-trophy-ballots/1

You really can't blame them. I mean, there was the Florida incident, and then the BS at Auburn involving his father.

[Iggo]

9. They'll catch ya later, Cam.

Signed, Reggie Bush.

[hughee99]

10. I was thinking that Bush might cost Cam the Heisman

They just got one trophy back a few months ago and the voters don't want to make it a regular "thing".

[Elwood P Dowd]

12. There was plenty of evidence Bush received thousands of dollars in benefits.

In investigating Newton since last summer, the NCAA has found zero evidence that he received one penny from anyone. All they have is his father being approached by a former Mississippi State player turned agent/runner who said he could get Mr Newton money for Cam signing with Mississippi State. There were some discussions, but no agreement was made and no benefits given. According to the NCAA, neither Auburn or Cam Newton were aware of Cecil Newton's conversations with the MSU agent/runner. There are plenty of examples of a player being offered benefits or actually being given benefits by one school, and the NCAA declares them ineligible at that school but eligible at a different school. Albert Means is one such example.

The other schools recruiting Newton (AU, Tenn, Oklahoma) all say they heard not one word from the Newtons about wanting a pay for play deal.

[lazarus]

11. which is worse?

Giving Newton the Heisman, then, maybe, taking it back years later, even thought the NCAA exonerated him, so that likely won't happen?
Or not giving it to Newton, and then finding out he was completely innocent.

I say give it to him. He was clearly the best player this year.