Cam Newton continues to prove naysayers wrong

When Cam Newton was taken with the first-overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2011, not many people were expecting him to light up the league the way he did.

Newton proved to be a first-year phenom, and he took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

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And then he took a significant step back in his second year, and he’s been floating around the middle of the quarterback index for the majority of his career.

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In his fifth year, Newton is playing the best football of his career, and it’s time to start acknowledging how good he really is.

Looking at his stats, it’s easy to overlook them, as they’re not exactly ground-breaking by any means. So far this year, Newton has thrown for 809 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions and a quarterback rating of 88.5.

But once you consider his supporting cast, those pedestrian numbers appear more like super-human stats. Newton lost his favorite target — as well as the best receiver on the Panthers — Kelvin Benjamin to a torn ACL in the offseason. So Newton’s top target this year has been Tedd Ginn Jr., an average-at-best receiver.

The rest of Newton’s receiving corps is made up of Corey Brown, Brenton Berson, Devin Funchess and Jerricho Cotchery. In my opinion, that’s the worst group of wide outs in the entire NFL.

“The quarterback who was once criticized for character issues has matured before our eyes, and he’s now playing the role of Superman for the Carolina Panthers.”

Still, Newton has adapted and made Greg Olsen his number-one receiver. It’s not like Carolina’s run game is helping Newton out either. But that’s been the story for a while.

Lead back Jonathan Stewart has only amassed 220 yards, while Newton has accumulated 195 yards. Carolina hasn’t produced a 1,000-yard rusher once since Newton’s been on the team.

For all intents and purposes, Newton is, and has been, the main focal point of the offense. Defenses know it, but they still can’t stop him.

He’s a unique talent, as the only quarterback you could really compare him with is Russell Wilson. However, Newton is the superior quarterback when compared to Wilson. When Wilson plays terribly, the Seahawks can still find a way to win. When Newton doesn’t perform at least moderately well, the Panthers lose.

Newton has been able to use his incredible athleticism to keep plays alive, and that factor keeps defenses honest. While Newton is the best-running quarterback in the NFL, he doesn’t rely on his legs. Newton has escaped the run-first playing style that plagued Michael Vick early in his career.

When Newton has protection he’s a top-flight QB, and he’s absolutely justifying Carolina taking him back in 2011.

Former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark said Newton is a serious contender to be the league’s MVP.

“He’s definitely playing at a very, very high level,” Clark said, according to ESPN. “He’s making good decisions, making good throws, running at the right time, picking up first downs, and doing everything you want from a guy to carry a team. Really, you could make a strong case Cam is playing MVP football right now.”

Clark’s remarks about efficiency speak volumes. Newton is playing smart, and it’s leading to victories. The quarterback who was once criticized for character issues has matured before our eyes, and he’s now playing the role of Superman for the Carolina Panthers.

In my preseason quarterback power rankings, I had Newton at 13, ahead of Joe Flacco, Matthew Stafford and Andy Dalton. I was curious as to whether he could carry the Panthers with a shaky group of receivers. He’s done it masterfully.

So now, after leading his Panthers to a 4-0 start, I’m curious as to whether Newton can enter Seattle and put his team in a position to get a win. It would probably be Cam’s first true, signature win, and it would certainly be one of his biggest.

Next: NFL Power Rankings at QB: Where's Cam?

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