Newtons admit pay for play in phone talks

More accusations surfaced Tuesday night when ESPN reported on its website that Newton and his father each had a phone conversation with a Mississippi State recruiter that acknowledged a pay-for-play arrangement for the prized recruit.

"I’m not going to entertain something that took place not three months, not six months, not a year but two years ago," Newton said. "I’m not going to sit up here and say anything about it, whether I did or did not do it, because I don’t want to beat a dead horse talking about it. It’s not going to affect me any way, shape or fashion."

It didn’t against FCS opponent Chattanooga last weekend, when he passed for four touchdowns and 317 yards, all in the first half.

Georgia coach Mark Richt is expecting Newton’s best again.

"All that stuff was swirling last week and it didn’t bother him," Richt said. "Usually when a guy starts playing ball or even practicing ball, it doesn’t matter what’s going on away from the field. That’s a haven for an athlete. He gets a chance to be in his element and shut everything out, shut the world out, just go have fun and play some ball."