If you buy into passer rating...

[CRA]

Well I framed it in my mind as "who is the better quarterback".

As far as who I'd take over Newton in reality right now, when you factor in age and years of play, probably about the only two guys I could see swapping for would be Josh Freeman or Aaron Rodgers, and with a gun to my head probably only Freeman (great as Rodgers is, he's in his seventh season).

Are guys like Brady and Brees better? In the short-term, sure, but Newton's got his whole career ahead of him.

well, I would take Newton over a bunch of QBs (most) in terms of who I want for my franchise going forward.

as of right now, just evaluating the past 4 weeks of play......Cam isn't outplaying the likes of say, Matt Hasselbeck. But that is okay.

[Tarheels23]

I admit I may not be the most objective because I am a homer and watch every snap from newton and not have the luxury of doing that with all the elite QB's.

That being said Cam is top 4 this season so far.

Here's my list for this season so far

1.Brady

2.Rodgers

3.Brees

4 Newton

This is probably the most accurate to me!

Oh, and Scott you tripping if you'll take Freeman over Cam right now. When I thought Freeman was the ceiling I would've been more than happy to have Cam play like him, but since Cam has played the way he has, he will be better than Freeman in every part of the game.

This guy throws the ball down the field like it's nothing, and he's leading the league in 21+ yards, pass completions. That's crazy to me for a rookie.

[Mr. Scot]

well, I would take Newton over a bunch of QBs (most) in terms of who I want for my franchise going forward.

as of right now, just evaluating the past 4 weeks of play......Cam isn't outplaying the likes of say, Matt Hasselbeck. But that is okay.

I'm not a big Hasselbeck fan myself.

Oh, and Scott you tripping if you'll take Freeman over Cam right now. When I thought Freeman was the ceiling I would've been more than happy to have Cam play like him, but since Cam has played the way he has, he will be better than Freeman in every part of the game.

This guy throws the ball down the field like it's nothing, and he's leading the league in 21+ yards, pass completions. That's crazy to me for a rookie.

Right now, freeman is better in the red zone. Once Newton fixes that (and I think he will) then you'd see me switch positions.

Right now, I'm just happy that it's a valid debate, honestly.

[CRA]

I'm not a big Hasselbeck fan myself.

I'm not either. Don't think he keeps it up this season.

But, for those saying through 4 weeks that Cam has outplayed everyone but 4 guys.....that is false.

Cam has outplayed most QBs inbetween the 20s.....yes. But overall, no. Playing QB is more than yards. Cam is learning and improving at a great pace.....but he still has a lot of room to improve.

[Gazi]

One question: Is this the QBR by ESPN?

[Mr. Scot]

One question: Is this the QBR by ESPN?

NFL.com

I'm not either. Don't think he keeps it up this season.

But, for those saying through 4 weeks that Cam has outplayed everyone but 4 guys.....that is false.

Cam has outplayed most QBs inbetween the 20s.....yes. But overall, no. Playing QB is more than yards. Cam is learning and improving at a great pace.....but he still has a lot of room to improve.

Ball placement still needs work, especially in the red zone, but I do think it's improving.

Top five in the league? That's a bit homerish.

Best of the rookies? Only other guy that can really stake a claim is Dalton. I'd take Newton in that one. Ponder may get a chance at some point.

I'd take him over pretty much any of the second year guys too (Bradford, McCoy, The Golden Calf of Bristol, etc).

[panther4life]

I'm not either. Don't think he keeps it up this season.

But, for those saying through 4 weeks that Cam has outplayed everyone but 4 guys.....that is false.

Cam has outplayed most QBs inbetween the 20s.....yes. But overall, no. Playing QB is more than yards. Cam is learning and improving at a great pace.....but he still has a lot of room to improve.

He does have 4 red zone rushing TDs, and had the play calling been different they could have been passing TDs too. I'd have to go back and look but I am almost certain there have been at least 3 passing TDs called back by penalties and other drops as well. So he is doing better than you think in that regard.

Here's another way of looking at it. How many QB's out there do you think would have better stats that cam right now if we signed them as free agents?

He's playing out of his mind and occasionally sail's passes over heads that get tipped and become INT's. Others just miss badly. Then he got picked off twice by one of the best corners in the game (Woodson).

But where I think he really sets himself apart from the other elite QB's is he has the ability to shrug off/juke the best defenders in the league and turn should have been sacks into passes downfield or positive runs.

[Tarheels23]

2 games with no sacks at all! He's making this O-Line look really good.

[CRA]

He does have 4 red zone rushing TDs, and had the play calling been different they could have been passing TDs too. I'd have to go back and look but I am almost certain there have been at least 3 passing TDs called back by penalties and other drops as well. So he is doing better than you think in that regard.

Here's another way of looking at it. How many QB's out there do you think would have better stats that cam right now if we signed them as free agents?

He's playing out of his mind and occasionally sail's passes over heads that get tipped and become INT's. Others just miss badly. Then he got picked off twice by one of the best corners in the game (Woodson).

But where I think he really sets himself apart from the other elite QB's is he has the ability to shrug off/juke the best defenders in the league and turn should have been sacks into passes downfield or positive runs.

I realize that, but look at the number of attempts his team has had in the redzone and how many times they have walked away without a TD. I am not just looking at passing TDs........a lot of QBs have done better. If the offense had gotten in more......we would have more wins

[monstercat]

I realize that, but look at the number of attempts his team has had in the redzone and how many times they have walked away without a TD. I am not just looking at passing TDs........a lot of QBs have done better. If the offense had gotten in more......we would have more wins

Yeah, but Newton has had 4-5 TD passes called back in the redzone. The penalties have been very costly.

[Mr. Scot]

2 games with no sacks at all! He's making this O-Line look really good.

Our current crop of Uglys are better pass blockers than run blockers.

Still, having a guy who's big and can move covers a multitude of sins.

[panther4life]

I realize that, but look at the number of attempts his team has had in the redzone and how many times they have walked away without a TD. I am not just looking at passing TDs........a lot of QBs have done better. If the offense had gotten in more......we would have more wins

Is newton the one who should be blamed for this, or could it be the play calling/ execution of his teammates?

The kid is not perfect and I am not trying to be an apologist but Cam deserves no more than a third of the blame for our red zone woes if that much.

[jarhead]

Its to early to crown him king but he is doing better than I ever imagined.I thought as many he would take off running when pressured.He shows better poise in the pockets than many veterans.I was neither a Cam lover or hater but did not think in my wildest dream that he would be so dedicated to his trade and poised in the pocket.Given the lockout I am very pleased.

[Jrock88]

passer rating doesn't take into account some of the other things hes done well... particularly running with the football. Whats he at now, 4 rushing tds?