The editors of Cat Scratch Reader are missing a terrific opportunity to enhance the member’s enjoyment of this football season. The omission to which I refer is a tracking chart to show the status of both Cam Newton’s and Steve Smith’s progression towards NFL records this season. I would like to note that all are post AFL - NFL merger records.

For those readers not aware of which records are clearly within reach of this pair, let’s look at the NFL record categories being challenged …

after the jump.

Cam’s Prospective Records:  Cam has the potential to break several NFL records. Below I give existing records and where Cam stands in relationship to them. The records I see as legitimate targets are:

·         Passing yards/single game (Rookie)                432 – Cam Newton (9/25/2011)

·         Passing yards/season (Rookie)                       3,739 – Peyton Manning (1998)

2,393/4,786 – Cam Newton (8 games/Projected)

·         Passing yards/game avg. (Rookie)                 233.7 – Peyton Manning (1998)

299.1/299.1 – Cam Newton (8 games/Projected)

·         Completions (Rookie)                                        354 – Sam Bradford (2010)

       174/348 – Cam Newton (8 games/Projected)

·         Passing touchdowns (Rookie)                             26 – Peyton Manning (1998)

           11/22 – Cam Newton (8 games/Projected)

·         QB rushing touchdowns (Rookie)                        7 – Vince Young (2004)

             7/14 – Cam Newton (8 games/Projected)

·         QB rushing touchdowns                                      12 – Steve Grogan (1976)

             7/14 – Cam Newton (8 games/Projected)

Smitty’s Prospective Records:  Smitty has two NFL receiving records within reach. Like above, I give the existing records and where Smitty stands in relationship to them. The records I see as legitimate targets are:

·         Receiving yards/season                                  1,848 – Jerry Rice (1995)

            1,781 – Isaac Bruce (1995)

            1,746 – Charley Hennigan (1961 - AFL)

   918/1,836 – Steve Smith (8 games/Projected)

·         100 yard Receiving games/season                     11 – Michael Irvin (1995)

    10 – (Tied) 4 players

      9 – (Tied) 12 players

5/10 – Steve Smith (8 games/Projected)

My suggestion is to put a tracking chart onto the CSR site in the left margin so fans can see the progress toward the records at a glance. What do you think, CSRers?