The best policy

In an HBO Real Sports report, four former Auburn football players said they were paid thousands in cash, and two of them said that the money they received swayed them in their choice of schools.

As a junior college player, defensive end Raven Gray, pictured above, received $2,500 to $3,000 to ensure he would attend Auburn.

“Loyalty is the key,” Gray told Real Sports. “I believe in that a whole lot. This man give me money. I’m going to be loyal to him and go up to Auburn.”

Stanley McClover committed to Ohio State, but changed his mind when a lot of Auburn cash crossed his palms.

"I literally almost passed out; I couldn’t believe it was true,” McClover said. “I felt like I owed them.”

Ah, yes, loyalty. The tale of these two “honest” former student-athletes reminds me of Ambrose Bierce’s definition of an honest politician: “An honest politician,” he said, “is one who when he is bought will stay bought.”

More Tigers trouble

In an HBO special, four former Tigers admit they received thousands of bucks from boosters.

The four — Chaz Ramsey, Troy Reddick, Stanley McClover and Raven Gray — say they received cash as part of a pay-for-play scheme during their time at Auburn.

The four played for the Tigers pre-Chizik, but if any of you think the culture at Auburn has changed, well … think Cam Newton.

McClover — that's him above — said that when he was being recruited out of high school, boosters from Auburn, Michigan State and Ohio State arranged for him to get money and other inducements such as — ahem — sexual services.

McClover was set to go to Ohio State, but after receiving a wad cash from Tigers boosters, switched to Auburn. "I felt like I owed them," he said.

The NCAA already is looking into possible Auburn violations and while these four players’ admissions might be too far in the past to act upon, they’re not likely to make the NCAA ease up any on its current probe.