NFC South Top 25: Cam Newton (#4)

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Link: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/36623/nfc-south-top-25-no-4

Cam Newton, quarterback, Carolina

What he did in 2011: The lockout didn’t seem to hurt Newton’s rookie season at all. He passed for over 400 yards in each of his first two games. He also became the first rookie to throw for 4,000 yards and Newton made some plays with his legs. He was the obvious choice of Offensive Rookie of the Year. The only knock on Newton was the Panthers finished 6-10. It’s important to note that was a four-win improvement over the previous season. It’s also important to note that Carolina’s defense gave the offense almost no help last year.

Why he’s No. 4 in 2012: A lot of people are speculating Newton could be hit by “the sophomore slump." I just don’t see it. He’s had a full offseason with his coaches this time. I’m not quite ready to put Newton in the same category with Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers,Tom Brady and Peyton Manning just yet. But there’s no denying his potential appears limitless. What we saw out of Newton last season might have been only a preview of things.

[D34Williams]

duh come on pat cam #1

[Argus Plexus]

I wonder who 3 and 2 are, we all know who 1 is. Fair haired boy.

[Marguide]

I wonder who 3 and 2 are, we all know who 1 is. Fair haired boy.

Jimmy Graham will be #2. Carl Nicks will be #3.

[Chaos]

Actually, we're only missing one name right? Drew will be #1 and his mole #2, so who is #3? Please not the Ice Noodle.

[Argus Plexus]

Jimmy Graham will be #2. Carl Nicks will be #3.

Carl Nicks over Ryan Kalil? Really?

[Jackofalltrades]

Carl Nicks over Ryan Kalil? Really?

It's Pat Y. Even worse? It's ESPN.

[Jesse]

I'm sure a team starting from scratch would have Graham over Cam. Lol.

[PantherPhann89]

It's good to hear people talk about our QB. We aren't used to hearing this many positive things about a Carolina Panther QB.

[Mage]

I'm sure a team starting from scratch would have Graham over Cam. Lol.

Can people stop doing this?

Not every list is "who would you rather have on your team starting by scratch" sort of thing. From my understanding, he is just doing it by skill level, how good they are at their position. Graham is the #2 or #3 TE. Newton is not the #2 or #3 QB.

I'm just happy we have a guy who, after one year in the NFL, is already being considered as the 4th best player in the division (though I disagree with him being ahead of our own Johnson, Beason, Kalil, Smith but if he is doing it on how he projects them to perform in 2012, it's very understandable).

[Jesse]

Can people stop doing this?

Not every list is "who would you rather have on your team starting by scratch" sort of thing. From my understanding, he is just doing it by skill level, how good they are at their position. Graham is the #2 or #3 TE. Newton is not the #2 or #3 QB.

If people continuously do this; no probably not.

Cam is definitely outside of the top 10 at the QB position and Graham is arguably the #2 tight end. I think Cam brings more to the field than anyone in the NFC South other than Brees. Granted, Nicks is considered the best guard in the league, but I just can't fathom how any guard could be a better player overall than Cam or even Matt Ryan for that matter.

[TheGreatestOfAllTimeCam]

should be #1, honestly, 2 maybe behind brees

[CatMan72]

I'd say Brees # 1, Cam # 2 (for now)

[Mage]

If people continuously do this; no probably not.

Cam is definitely outside of the top 10 at the QB position and Graham is arguably the #2 tight end. I think Cam brings more to the field than anyone in the NFC South other than Brees. Granted, Nicks is considered the best guard in the league, but I just can't fathom how any guard could be a better player overall than Cam or even Matt Ryan for that matter.

But once again, you're now going with which position is more valuable, which is completely unfair to the said guard. If we're going to rank it like that, then hell, would you say Matt Ryan is also better than Jon Beason just because he plays quarterback? Or Matt Ryan is better than Ryan Kalil?

This list to my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) isn't about who you'd prefer to build your team around - obviously that is a quarterback. It's about how they rank as players. Graham is a better tight end than Newton is quarterback. Nicks is a better guard than Newton is quarterback. It's just that simple. The only positions that I wouldn't put to that same logic are kicker, punter, and fullback and for obvious reasons.

My issue is it is sickening to see around this site how no matter how highly outsiders praise Newton, it just isn't good enough for some of them. You would think after seeing how trashed our team was by outsiders would have humbled some but there isn't any room for that, no sir. Let's just follow in the same footsteps and do the same mistake they did and overrate our players. And I love Newton, don't get me wrong. He's going to be a beast once he fully understands the game. But man, seriously, can people stop bitching and moaning about every single list that doesn't have Newton at minimum #2? He's not a better player than Jimmy Graham right now. That doesn't mean I want Graham over Newton - Newton plays quarterback, it's an obvious decision. But purely as a player, I don't see how Newton is better. I don't see how Newton is better than Nicks either. You even said it. Newton, as of now, is probably on the outside of the top ten or at the very least, in the bottom half. Nicks is undoubtedly the best guard.

But I ask this question. If we're going to put Newton over Graham, do we also put Ryan over Beason and Kalil? Ryan technically brings more to the field due to playing quarterback but would we consider Ryan a better player than the aforementioned? I guarantee you nobody here would. It's just that kind of double standard around here that frustrates me. I understand being biased to a certain extent. I am too. But people take Newton criticism way too close to the heart sometimes and personally, I don't see how as a PLAYER he is above Nicks or Graham.