Paul Finebaum takes multiple shots at Cam Newton, defends Arch Manning take

Paul Finebaum took an interesting turn to defend his Arch Manning–Tim Tebow take by taking shots at Cam Newton. Yup, it’s officially the summer time as we are still a little less than two months away from college football.

Finebaum initially compared Manning to Tebow as he believes the Texas QB will be a Heisman Trophy finalist and ready to win a national title. Why the ESPN host chose Newton as the target of his shrapnel is a curious choice to say the least.

He compared Newton’s hype at Auburn, winning the national title and Heisman, as the selfish version of the way to do it, compared to what Tebow did at Florida. So that ultimately led to Finebaum defending his Manning hype, we think.

“I actually covered Cam Newton and Auburn, and I was actually quite aware of why he left the University of Florida,” Finebaum said on First Take. “Because (Urban Meyer) told me, (Cam) is the worst guy he has ever dealt with in his college career. Now that’s saying a great deal considering some of the 30-for-30s that have been done on a few of his other players, but I just wanted to make that point … 

“But the point being that Cam Newton got kicked off the team. As you know, he went to William Junior College. He only played one meaningful year, and on the final play of Cam Newton’s career, Gene Chizik told me this by the way … he told Cam Newton to take a knee in the national championship game. Cam Newton decided to be Superman and tried to dive over the pile against Oregon, and he failed, nearly fumbling the ball and had to kick a field goal to win the national championship. I bring up all this ancient history (to say) Cam Newton was selfish. Tim Tebow was the consummate team player.” 

Tebo was a part of the 2006 Florida team that won it and the won the title two years later as the full time starter. The only similarity with Manning is that the son of Cooper was a backup to Quinn Ewers for two years while Texas made the CFP semifinals. Now ready to take the next step, Finebaum is confident in Manning being able to lead this Longhorns team to the top.

Which, by the way, would be similar to what Newton did as well. But we digress.

“He led that team to a national championship on his own,” Finebaum said, “He participated in 2006 with Chris Leak. That’s what I see in Arch Manning. And no, he has not shown anything in that Mississippi State game that all the critics like to point to. But he has the potential. That is what I am talking about. He’s capable of the Heisman this year. He’s capable of multiple national championships, should he stay, and perhaps already would have won one, if Steve Sarkisian would have listened to me instead of Mike Tannenbaum. 

“But the point is, I rest my case. I’m not backing down. I feel like the battered New York Democratic candidate for mayor who everybody has attacked. I don’t want anything to do with him, by the way. I’m just making a point that I feel like I have been unfairly attacked, not only by you three, but by the entire country.”