Cam Newton is an incredible football player and an even better human being. Since coming to Charlotte, Newton has embraced the city as his home and the Panthers as his team. When the Panthers called his name first at the Draft, he became the first player in the modern era to win the Heisman Trophy, win the college football National Championship and be drafted first overall within a one year span. He was the first rookie quarterback to pass for over 400 yards in his first game and over 4,000 yards in his first season. He was the first player to have over 400 yards passing in his first two career games. His 35 total touchdowns also set a rookie record that year, and his 14 rushing touchdowns set a NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
The accolades were mostly individual in his first couple of seasons, but since then Cam Newton has led the Panthers to the first ever back-to-back(-to-back) NFC South championships. This season has been especially amazing for Newton, as he is now one five-touchdown-pass game away from tying Peyton Manning's NFL record for a season. He was also the first quarterback to lead his team to a comeback victory after trailing in overtime when the Panthers beat the Colts earlier this year. Sunday Newton became the first player to throw five touchdowns and rush for 100 yards in the same game. And now, with the Panthers' success this season, Newton has become the only quarterback to be 14-0 in college (FBS) and in the pros (NFL). In fact, Newton's Heisman season at Auburn has been eerily similar to his (likely) MVP season here in Carolina.
The graphic, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information, shows the main similarities. The 14-0 record was best in the respective leagues each time, and Cam was the leader in total touchdowns in both seasons. 14-0 was also uncharted territory for Auburn, and is new to the Panthers franchise as well. Cam also had statement comeback wins in each of those seasons, against defending champion Alabama in college and against defending NFC champion Seattle this season. I think it is safe to say Newton has become the entertainer-slash-icon that he mentioned wanting to be before he was drafted. He is doing things that we have never seen before in this game of football. As for the reason Cam is so incredible, I think the man himself put it best:
Cam Newton says the kind of thing Cam Newton says sometimes | ProFootballTalk
"Absolutely not," he said. "I say this with the most humility, but I don’t think nobody has ever been who I’m trying to be. Nobody has the size, nobody has the speed, nobody has the arm strength, nobody had the intangibles that I’ve had. "I’m not saying I’m the one-on-one type of person that this league will never see again. No, I’m not saying that, hear me out. I’m just saying that so much of my talents have not been seen in one person."
Amid the controversy and doubt, let's remember to enjoy this 14-0 ride that only three other NFL fanbases have experienced. My dad would always tell me that people were like crabs in a bucket. If one crab begins to climb out of the bucket to freedom, do the other crabs cheer him on? No, they grab him and try to pull him back down to their level. Cam Newton has brought our beloved franchise to the top of the NFL bucket. Ignore the distractions and enjoy the success that Carolina fans have never experienced before. And most of all, Keep Pounding!