Cam Newton is having the kind of rookie season that most players could only dream of. The number one overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft isn’t wasting any time, breaking records in his first season. This season with the Carolina Panthers, Newton has 13 rushing touchdowns, an NFL record for quarterbacks. The historical feat has silenced many of his critics and even turned some of them into fans. Newton splashed onto the scene with back-to-back 400 yard passing performances in his first two games, which had never been done by a rookie before.
Newton is a rare specimen, combining his 4.5 speed with a 6’5” 240 pound frame. Several other notable quarterbacks throughout history have had similar athleticism and size. JaMarcus Russell, former number one overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2007, had a rocket arm to go along with size and mobility. The big difference is that Russell never clicked in the NFL and isn’t on any current roster, while Newton is changing the way the game is played. 
During the 2011 NFL combine, many professional scouts and evaluators wanted to critique Newton’s game, even after winning the Heisman Trophy and leading his Auburn Tigers to the National Title. Willing to admit what a gifted athlete he was, they just didn’t feel his game would translate to the NFL. Looking from afar at the Carolina Panthers record of 4-9 going into week 15, it would seem like his doubters were right; however, ask any player on the roster and they’ll give you as clear-cut an answer as you’ll find. Newton is the solution.
Today’s most successful quarterbacks are all aerial artists. They can watch film of a defense for a week and by Sunday, pick it apart with relative ease. Newton is not in the same class as an Aaron Rodgers or a Tom Brady, but possibly someday. All things considered, neither of them accomplished what Newton has in his rookie season. Actually, neither Rodgers nor Brady were even seeing the field in their rookie seasons.
It also takes time to build the necessary pieces around your franchise quarterback, which Carolina is in the process of doing; however, since Newton is making defenses look like Swiss cheese with his arm already, imagine the numbers he might put up in three or four years, with more experience and a better supporting cast. And that’s not even considering his most lethal asset – his legs. If he can continue to develop as a passer, Newton could potentially become the perfect quarterback. He would create more headaches for defenses than any other player who’s ever suited up because no one would be able to shut down both parts of his game.
All of this sounds great, but the fact of the matter is Cam Newton still has a ways to go. And part of the reason he can become this great someday is because of the chip on his shoulder. People always want to tell him what he can’t do and eventually, maybe they’ll run out of things to say.
