After the Panthers season ending lose to the Saints the Panthers rookie QB pledged to continue to work out just as if he was still playing until the Super Bowl is over. We have independent confirmation from ESPN Analyst Trent Dilfer that Newton, at least so far, has been a man of his word:

"He's watched every snap of this season already on his own. He's not missed a day in the weight room. He's already running," Dilfer told the Hood Hargett Breakfast Club on Friday at Carmel Country Club. "He's already training as if it's the heart of the offseason."

So it would seem Newton is actually continuing to work hard though his season is over. Some may think he's just being flamboyant; not me, I love it.I wish he had other Panthers with him but I won't hold that against him.

Dilfer is in Charlotte for a speaking engagement and called Newton hoping to connect. Dilfer knows a star in the making when he sees one:

"I just saw the biggest, baddest dude throw a football like I've only seen a couple people in my life throw it," Dilfer recalled telling an ESPN staffer. "I said, 'This dude is going to change football.' "

I'm thinking Dilfer is playing a little revisionist historian here. If he had said something so bold last Feb I think I would have remembered it. Dilfer doesn't stop there which we can discuss after the jump...

Dilfer reaches back to the Panthers Black Period (2009-2010) to make his comparison to the offense under Super Cam:

"This place was awful. Terrible. It was unwatchable," Dilfer said. "And here comes this dude, he comes in and he just changes the team. Not just his play, but his personality. The energy he brings to the situation is incredible."

There's those references to Newton's energy and personality again. Honestly even after watching the interviews, both post-game and media appearances and watching other video footage, I so far have had a hard time getting a feel for Newton's personality. He doesn't seem arrogant though he has reason to be. He comes across very confident but also personable, but I have gotten a sense he has a lot of depth. That could be he's just guarded which would make sense. He seems to always be playing around or reading from queue cards. But maybe that's just me.

If I had to compare the off-field Newton to previous athletes I would say he's a cross between Deion Sanders and Chris Carter. Look no further than his Super Cam TD move for evidence of his confidence and flashiness. He came up with that in what, his second game? Honestly I'm not sure when it was but we should chronicle it, game 2 or 3 I think. Yet in spite of some baiting by media types the worst slip up he has had is the 'Icon and Entertainer' comment which, not that I think of it, has become pretty prophetic.

via blackathlete.net

So what do you guys think about my comparison? Who would be a better off-field comparison for Newton?

via a.espncdn.com