Well this changes everything if true.
A source close to the situation exclusively told Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Mark Winne that the player's father, Cecil Newton, has admitted having conversations with an ex-Mississippi State University player about the possibility of under-the-table money if Cam Newton signed to play football at Mississippi State, though he's steadfastly maintained that no money ever changed hands and said no official at Mississippi State ever made such an offer.
According to Winne’s source, Cecil Newton said his son’s hands are clean, and has made it clear that Cam Newton himself and his mother knew nothing about the money discussions, nor did Auburn University, with whom the Westlake High School grad from College Park eventually signed with out of junior college.
So here's the story from the Newton side of things: Cecil Newton, without knowledge of his son or wife, talked with Kenny Rogers about getting money from Mississippi State, but he never ended up getting any. After MSU turned him down, he got cold feet and never asked for money from Auburn, the school Cam ended up going to.
Keep this in mind: every local TV station "exclusive," and I mean every last one of them, was incorrect during the conference expansion saga over the summer. Take this one with a grain of salt for now, even if the story jives with all the other information reported.
Also, Cecil Newton merely asking for money is an NCAA violation which has consequences that can affect his son. I don't know if this scenario is severe enough for the NCAA to vaporize vacate Auburn's full season, but I would think some of the September games would be on the hook.