Kenny Rogers, Agent Reportedly Tied To Cam Newton, Allegedly Served As Runner

Cam Newton's eligibility likely hinges on what exactly agent Kenny Rogers did during the process of his recruitment from Blinn Junior College in Texas to Auburn. Rogers, though, has already been part of one flap about the role of agents in college sports this year.

In July, ESPN Chicago's Michael C. Wright wrote about the NFL Players Association investigating Chicago agent Ian Greengross and an associate. That associate was Rogers.

Rogers allegedly worked as a runner for Greengross, connecting him to players, and, according to NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, may have posed as a representative from the NFLPA in order to influence players.

Greengross explained his involvement with Rogers as thus:

"I paid Kenny to work with some of my players," said Greengross, who according to his Facebook page represents Bears players Tommie Harris, Charles Tillman, Israel Idonije and Lance Briggs as a Chicago attorney. "He introduced me to a lot of coaches, and [I paid him] to review film of players and scout players. I paid him a flat fee. I never paid a percentage for referring players. That's disclosed on the NFLPA form [which is required of agents, who have business ties with people who have contact with any of the agent's clients]."

There's probably a ways to go before we know what, exactly, transpired during Cam Newton's recruitment, or what role Kenny Rogers played in it. But there's more than enough circumstantial evidence here to light sports radio programs and message boards ablaze in the coming days.

And what Rogers said then in response to allegations of wrongdoing won't help.

Rogers called the NFLPA's investigation "crazy." Asked if he was concerned about possible ramifications, Rogers said, "Hell, yeah. Man, nobody needs his name tarnished, especially when I do what I do to try to put kids in school. I don't need nothing like that."