Cam Newton propels Panthers over Redskins; 33-20

Panthers phenom Cam Newton ran for a touchdown and threw for another in the second half to help the Panthers beat the Redskins 33-20 on Sunday.

Jonathan Stewart also ran for a third-quarter touchdown for the Panthers (2-5), who for the first time all year found themselves playing with the lead almost the entire way.

Newton threw for 256 yards and ran for 59 more. He ran for his seventh touchdown on a 16-yard keeper in the third quarter, tying a record for most TDs rushing by a rookie quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.

In the fourth, he had an easy touchdown toss to Brandon LaFell that sealed the deal.

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Mariucci puts Newton under the microscope

Published: September 19th, 2011 | Tags: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, NFL GameDay Final, Steve Mariucci

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If two weeks has taught us anything, maybe it’s that we should start expecting the unexpected from Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton.

It seemed unfathomable that Newton would follow up the record-setting performance in his debut with another incredible showing against the vaunted Packers defense in Week 2, but the first overall pick more than held his own. All he did was complete 28 of 46 passes for 432 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions, and led the Panthers in rushing with 53 yards and a touchdown. Newton now has the most passing yards (854) of any quarterback in his first two career games since 1950.

NFL Network analyst and quarterback guru Steve Mariucci broke down Newton’s performance on “NFL GameDay Final” Sunday, taking a closer look at what Newton did well and where his rookie mistakes are still showing.

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Mayock: Newton is talented, but raw

Published: January 19th, 2011 | Tags: Cam Newton, Cam Newton, Mike Mayock, NFL Total Access

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock gives a breakdown on former Auburn QB Cam Newton and his NFL future.

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Newton more McNabb, less Russell says NFL exec

Published: January 17th, 2011 | Tags: Cam Newton, 2011 NFL Draft, Donovan McNabb, JaMarcus Russell, Josh Freeman, Steve McNair, Vince Young

One of the more intriguing names in the upcoming 2011 NFL Draft is Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Not only regarding where he’ll be drafted, but the inevitable comparisons to failed (so far) quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Vince Young.

One veteran personnel executive told NFL Network’s Albert Breer that Newton is much better than both of them.

“He’s significantly better than JaMarcus Russell and Vince Young were for a lot of reasons,” said the league source. “I’d put him somewhere in the (Steve) McNair, (Donovan) McNabb, (Josh) Freeman category. This kid showed more accuracy and better decision-making than Freeman did at (Kansas State), though in the end, Freeman might be more intelligent.

“He’s like McNabb, but McNabb’s shorter. What you have here is a giant. He’s 6-foot-6 and a lean 255 (pounds). He’ll be hard to sack like those guys were. I don’t know his smarts, he might be really intelligent, but I do think, like those three, even if he can’t pick apart a defense, he can buy time with his feet. Coverages are only made to hold up for four seconds or so … so like those guys, he can make time to find the open guy. And this guy has those guys’ leadership. I don’t think Vince or JaMarcus had it. Teammates follow (Newton).”

It’s not to suggest that Newton’s game is perfect. One scout was quick to point out that “the structure of that offense made him look more accurate than he is. It’s all play-action based, throwing to wide open receivers, with bubble screens that pad his numbers. He gets so much respect because of his athletic ability.”

A number of quarterback-hungry teams sit atop the NFL draft — Carolina, Buffalo and Arizona in the top five alone. Will one of them be willing to risk such a high pick on Newton?

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Newton named Davey O'Brien winner

Auburn's Cam Newton was named Thursday as the winner of the 2010 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, becoming the first Auburn player to win the honor.

Newton was a finalist along with Stanford's Andrew Luck and Boise State's Kellen Moore. The O'Brien National Selection Committee selected the winner with the Fan Vote accounting for 5 percent of the total vote. The committee was asked to consider the following criteria: quarterback skills, academics, character, leadership and sportsmanship.

During his first season at Auburn, the junior college transfer has led the No. 1 Tigers to a 13-0 record, SEC championship and a berth in the 2011 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game against the Oregon Ducks.

Newton accounted for 49 touchdowns this season -- 28 passing, 20 rushing and one receiving.

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Steve Spurrier is glad Newton is playing

South Carolina Steve Spurrier said Friday that he’s glad Auburn quarterback Cam Newton was ruled eligible to play in this game and that he deserves to play.

“It wouldn't have been right to not play when the championship's on the line,” Spurrier said. “I remember Joe Paterno one time said, ‘You want to beat the other team when all their best players are playing, and hopefully, it will be a game that no key players get hurt during the course of the game and both teams fight it out and the team that plays the best will win.’

“So I'm glad he's playing. He deserves to play, and we haven't even thought about the other stuff.”

Spurrier, who as a former Heisman Trophy winner has a vote, said Newton would definitely be somewhere on his ballot.

“It is a private vote, as you know,” Spurrier said. “We don't have to reveal those like the coaches’ poll. But I think I've already said that Cam Newton will certainly get one of my votes. You get three. I'll keep secretive what order they're in, OK? It's a secret vote.

“But I think he deserves the Heisman, no question.”

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Texts included Newton payment plan

Former Mississippi State player Bill Bell told ESPN.com that he received a text message from former teammate Kenny Rogers last November outlining a payment schedule that would have brought Cam Newton to Mississippi State.

Bell said he also had phone conversations with Newton's father, Cecil Newton, but made it clear that Mississippi State had no plans to pay any money to secure Newton's signature on a letter-of-intent. Bell said he had no knowledge of Cam Newton's recruitment by Auburn and never spoke with Cam Newton. He's already spoken with NCAA investigators and shared this information with them.

Rogers' attorney, Doug Zeit, confirmed to ESPN.com on Wednesday that the payment plan sent by Rogers was the one Cecil Newton was seeking.

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