Why College Athletes Should Not Be Paid

It's been said big-time college stars like Auburn's Cam Newton or Ohio State's Terrelle Pryor—and Reggie Bush before them—are professionals in every sense of the word but one: they aren't paid.

NPR commentator Frank Deford said in November the most illuminating part of the Newton saga, was when Cam's dad said he didn't want his son to go to Mississippi State because there he would be, "a rented mule."

"A rented mule," Deford says, is the best definition of college athletes he's heard. Everybody (from the schools to the NCAA) makes money, except the athletes.

So what about the athletes?

The Newtons and Pryors of the world help create a financial system that allows 84 other players to be on the field with them on full scholarships. That's not counting all the other collegiate sports which rely on football money.

Of all Division I football players, about 99 percent have no hopes of making the NFL and have no free-market value tied to their skills. Yet, they are receiving free college educations.

Forget about whether or not they are actually going to class, just a few men from Auburn, and maybe a handful more from Ohio State, will be drafted and actually see playing time professionally. Very few college football players are being "exploited."

Start paying the Newtons their true "market value," and you're bound to cripple the entire system. The women's track team is just as dependent on college football as the 84 guys running out of the tunnel.

It's not worth killing amateurism in college sports just to pay 1 percent of star athletes what they'll make back in the long run.

Tigers Title Run Parallels Trojans Fall

Cam and Cecil's hug could prove to be a smoking gun.

The 2010 college football season is quickly becoming a distant memory, and for some Oregon fans it can't happen soon enough.

But in the year that saw Reggie Bush return his Heisman and USC vacate a championship, there was an odd parallel with the shenanigans at Auburn surrounding QB Cam Newton.

Somehow the NCAA decided Cam didn't know that his own dad was hustling his talent when he tried to sell his son to Mississippi State. As "punishment," nothing happened to Cam. But Cecil Newton ended up with "limited" access to the Auburn football program.

Of course, Auburn never publicly said what "limited" means.

Jump ahead to the day of the BCS Championship Game, Auburn Athletics Director Jay Jacobs told the AP Cecil would not be in attendance. The decision was "mutually agreed upon," Jacobs said.

Four quarters later, Cam knew exactly where to go to share a hug with dad at the stadium. So much for limiting his access.

What does all this mean?

I think the celebratory hug shows the Newtons have a complete disregard for the rules. The NCAA investigation seems far from over, since due process doesn't exist in its realm.

Likely, once the dust has been collecting on the BCS title for several years, Cam Newton will return his Heisman and Auburn ship its crystal ball west.

Fear the Ultimate Playoff Beard

For someone who can barely grow a fuzz after a month of not shaving, I'm in complete awe of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Brett Keisel's beard.

It looks prehistoric.

Most know about teammate Troy Polamalu's long locks, but "The Beard" as it's called, has really come into its own in just the past few weeks. It has a Facebook page with 27,000-plus admirers and it's on Twitter too and was the talk at Super Bowl media day.

Like most athletes, Keisel explains his furry face as sort of a superstitious thing.

"I'm from Pittsburgh and we have a great hockey team and they grow their beards out," Keisel said. "In June, I was thinking that it will seven months if we make it to the Super Bowl. We are shooting for out seventh Super Bowl ring, and the Steelers were made in 1933, which is 77 years to date. I said I'd give this thing seven months and see if it will get us to Dallas, and here we are."

I really doubt the beard is unleashing some sort of super powers. However, it could be helping "The Diesel," the lineman's other nickname, channel his inner "Grizzly" Adams. Adams of course tamed massive bears, Keisel tames quarterbacks.

Win or lose, "The Beard" is going to go after Super Bowl XLV. Keisel's wife bought him a razor for Christmas (just a small hint).

So admire this ultimate playoff beard while you still can. It's pretty amazing.

In Pittsburgh, You're Born a Steelers Fan

It's certainly not indoctrination. The simple fact of life is, if you're born in proximity to Pittsburgh, you just are a Steelers fan.

That's why a hospital in Mt. Lebanon, 11 miles from the Steelers home field, is wrapping newborns up in Terrible Towels this week.

The famous yellow symbol was created in 1975 by famed radio broadcaster Myron Cope. And it's been a staple ever since, wherever the Steelers go.

St. Clair Hospital is helping their pint-sized Steeler fans get into the spirit of Pittsburgh playing in Super Bowl XLV. The hospital staff is continuing its tradition started in the weeks leading up to Super Bowl XLIII (2008) to wrap babies up in black and gold.

Black and gold is a birthright for babies of the "Burgh," even if you don't get wrapped up in a Terrible Towel.

“They’re born Steelers fans here in Pittsburgh,” Sharon Johnson, clinical supervisor at the hospital’s Family Birth Center told Chartiers Valley Patch.

That's just the way it is. I can't really explain it, although I've theorized there's sometime in the water. I've been a Steelers since birth, even though my parents were transplants to the Steel City and happen to root for a rival team.

Disclaimer: It doesn't appear that newborns in Wisconsin will get mini cheeseheads this week.

UPDATE Thursday, Feb. 3: They don't sell mini cheeseheads, but hospital workers in Green Bay can make them. However, I still don't think they are as cute as those tiny Steeler fans.

The Most Talked About Knee in America (since Tom Brady's)

Chicago is a tough sports town, and football is one of the most physically grueling games.

That's why even before the NFC Championship game had ended, the criticism was mounting for Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler.

Cutler was on the bench with an injured knee, looking his usual morose self.

Rushing to judgement a glut of analysts and players started to question Cutler. Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew tweeted, "He can finish the game on a hurt knee. I played the whole season on one" and "Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now ... When the going gets tough........QUIT."

Former NFL star Deion Sanders said "I never question a player's injury but I do question a player's heart."

In all honesty, I too was wondering whether Cutler had just quit. We got an answer today.

In what's been the most discussed knee injury since New England QB Tom Brady went down, Cutler was sidelined for the second half of the Bears biggest game of the year for a Grade II MCL sprain, which would probably sideline a player 3-4 weeks during the regular season.

I don't quite understand all the heat Cutler's been taking for not being "tough" enough.

He plays football with Type I diabetes, and this year started in 17 of 18 games behind a porous offensive line which allowed him to get sacked an NFL worst 52 times. While that doesn't elude toughness like playing with a dislocated elbow, you can't be soft and make it through 50 sacks.

Sure, Cutler doesn't have a cuddly personality and the perception of the body language on Sunday came across that he didn't give care. But when has Jay Cutler ever been called one the games great leaders?

The only thing I've heard is he's a great talent, a guy with all the right physical tools.

You can't play a game at such a high level and just go through the motions. Cutler cared, he just didn't show it and never really has.

Hopefully, he can learn (and mature) from going through the ringer of a ridiculous media cycle.

Then maybe tomorrow the people of Chicago can start asking some real questions about the Bears, like what was coach Lovie Smith thinking when he called an end-around for a wide out not named Devin Hester, during the potential game-tying drive?