LA Times on Cam Newton: Is he the next Peyton Manning?

[blackcatgrowl]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/09/cam-newton-is-he-the-next-peyton-manning.html

Cam Newton and Peyton Manning were both No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft. For most people, the comparisons stopped there because Manning has become one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever seen and Newton has been dismissed by many as a bust before ever taking a regular-season snap.

But after just one game, the brand-new Carolina Panthers quarterback is being mentioned in the same breath as the veteran Indianapolis Colts QB -- and in a very positive way.

Sunday was the first time Manning did not start since his first game as a rookie in 1998, when he set a record by throwing for 302 yards in his NFL debut.

Sunday was also the day that Manning's record was broken -- by Newton, who obliterated it with 422 yards in the Panthers' 28-21 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Overall, Newton completed 24 of 37 passes with two touchdowns and one interception -- way better than Manning's numbers in his debut (21 of 37, 302 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions).

Obviously it's just a coincidence that Newton burst onto the scene the same day the injured Manning was forced to become a spectator. And, of course, who knows how the Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn will fare once NFL teams get some video on him.

But still, it was a quite a start for a guy who had so many doubters coming in.

"He was everything everybody didn't expect him to be," said Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who caught eight of Newton's passes, including both touchdowns. "He was on point, he made some great runs, he made some great reads, made some fantastic throws. He made some throws out there that, honestly, as a receiver, it made it easy to catch them.”

I'll say for the record, I'm not ready to make any kind of claim about Newton being the next Manning... but wow... he's turning heads.

[Mr. Scot]

I'll be happy if he's the next Brett Favre.

(minus the diva behavior and annual retirement/unretirement)

[CPF4LIFE]

My God if that were to happen....

[Ivan The Awesome]

When Cam wins a Super bowl, he'll surpass Peyton, why? Because no one ever talked about Cam the way they did Peyton. He'll be setting records as the guy who has won at every level of football and probably the only Heisman winning QB to do it. Not sure if there is a Heisman winning QB to wins a super bowl yet? If there is I missed on that fact.

[teeray]

Different type of QB but he has the potential to be just as dangerous.

[PntherPryd]

no offense to OP but this a moronic comparison.

[CLTPanther]

Bit early to say he will be Favre, Manning, Brady, etc. Let the guy play more games first before we annoint him. Not talking down on him either, I hope he does become Manning, but lets not lob so much expectations on him after 60 mins of football.

[Gipetto]

I think hes the next cam newton

[panthers55]

When Cam wins a Super bowl, he'll surpass Peyton, why? Because no one ever talked about Cam the way they did Peyton. He'll be setting records as the guy who has won at every level of football and probably the only Heisman winning QB to do it. Not sure if there is a Heisman winning QB to wins a super bowl yet? If there is I missed on that fact.

Jim Plunkett and Roger Staubach.

[blackcatgrowl]

I think hes the next cam newton

I've said this before

:)

Still the positive national attention is a change for us.

[NorthTryon]

Damn, they really need a team out in LA

[Kevin Greene]

I think hes the next cam newton

Agreed, and nothing wrong with that either.

[dksmith17]

I LOVE Cam but this knee jerk sports world is driving me crazy.

3 days ago the average Joe thought Cam was the next Jamarcus. Now he is Peyton?

Can't we just take it all in without making over the top claims?

[monstercat]

Bit early to say he will be Favre, Manning, Brady, etc. Let the guy play more games first before we annoint him. Not talking down on him either, I hope he does become Manning, but lets not lob so much expectations on him after 60 mins of football.

I agree with you that we shouldn't annoint the kid, but is there any reason to believe he won't get better over the course of the season? I'm sure he won't pass for 400yds every week and he will make plenty of mistakes along the way, but I also see him learning every single week, and that's all we can really ask for.