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Nick Fairley will play anywhere, except in the cold

Auburn Fairley Football

In this photo taken Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, Auburn’s Nick Fairley reacts after a play during the second half of the BCS National Championship NCAA college football game against Oregon, in Glendale, Ariz. Fairley, Auburn’s other big-name star, is heading to the NFL after winning the Lombardi Award and helping teammate Cam Newton lead the Tigers to a national title. The potential No. 1 overall pick announced his decision Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP

In the pre-draft poking and prodding, the things an incoming rookie says can have as much impact on his eventual placement -- and payday -- as the things he does.

In declaring his intention to forgo his final year of eligibility at Auburn and head to the NFL, Fairley made an observation about his first NFL destination that some teams could view as a red flag.

Asked where he wants to play at the next level, Fairley said (via Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com), “It doesn’t matter as long as it’s not cold.”

Um. Yeah.

Maybe he really didn’t mean it. Then again, maybe he did. Either way, the remark will surely be used by any interested team in assessing whether Fairley “gets it” and/or whether he’ll bring a sense of entitlement to the NFL.