Cam Newton takes issue with Nico Iamaleava transfer: 'Bad advice kills'

Cam Newton took issue with Nico Iamaleava and his camp forcing a transfer out of Tennessee amid NIL negotiations. The former Tennessee quarterback wanted an increase in his deal with the team and did not show up at the end of spring practice.

But, Newton put the onus on Iamaleava’s representatives. If he got bad advice, man that can kill you moving forward. 

Newton explained what he meant on his show, 4th & 1 with Cam Newton. He understood the argument in Iamaleava’s favor, but it was simply bad advice all around.

“This is not about money here, even though everybody’s making it about, oh man, this is about money, just this is a perfect case of good advice saves, bad advice kills,” Newton said. “Good advice will save your life, bad advice will kill you. Whoever gave him the advice to sit out killed that kid. Whoever told his father, whoever told him or gave him the inkling of, we need more money? Yeah, you would think it’s about money. This has everything to do with advice. Who advised the Iamaleava family to make this decision right? Because this is what you must understand, Nico and big Nico, regardless of how you bounce back from this, you will be the example. 

“There are certain things in people’s careers that just stick. When you think about Cam (Newton): Super Bowl (loss), when you think about Lamar (Jackson), playoffs. When you think about whoever player, you think about LeBron, right? You think about Jordan. There are certain negative connotations that come with the Pistons right? Now with Nico, he will have this as a stain on his career.” 

Iamaleava reportedly had interest from North Carolina and Tulane in the transfer portal both pulled out of wanting his services. Now, it’s seemingly down to UCLA, and perhaps other schools, but they’re waiting for the price to drop, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

“And it’s sad because … he is still a kid that’s being guided by other people,” Newton said. “Whether it’s his father, whether it’s his agent, whether it’s if it’s his family members, it doesn’t matter. This is a story of good advice, bad advice. Whoever advised this kid to sit out and chase in hopes for more money is a fool. Because the reality is this, and I’ll need to tell everybody about what NIL was and is intended for, is just to make your college experience comfortable. This is not forever money. You have to understand that even though you’re talking about millions and millions and millions of (dollars), this ain’t it, bro. You at 19 years old, but that money ain’t gonna last past 24.” 

Iamaleava’s college football future is up in the air, at least far as where he plays. It would be unfathomable for a kid of his talent to not land somewhere for 2025.

“Nico, who’s a good kid, who’s a great guy, family, is unbelievable, had an opportunity to see Nico,” Newton said. “He came to my QB challenge a couple years ago, and to observe him for those multiple days. I did not see this coming, but what I did understand, or do understand about kids and college athletes is they’re getting it from so many different (perspectives). ‘But bro, if I was you, bro, you heard how much he signed for?’ 

“When Carson Beck left Georgia to go to Miami, and (Nico) realized, like Carson Beck, made 10 million, I’m better than Carson Beck. I know I can slap him for 12, but I’m just making one point … Bad advice can kill you.”