Schefter: Newton ORotY, Smith Comeback PotY

[UNCrules2187]

Offensive Rookie of the Year -- Panthers quarterback Cam Newton: Stunning. Jaw-dropping. Entertaining and iconic.

Runner-up: Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.

Comeback Player of the Year -- Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith: One year after disappearing and nearly departing Carolina, Smith leads the NFL with 918 receiving yards -- 364 more than he had all of last year.

Runner-up: Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Also says Panthers were fortunate that Luck decided to stay in school:

3. Panthers the big winners: When Andrew Luck officially decided to remain at Stanford, a feeling of dejection swept through Carolina, where the Panthers owned the No. 1 overall pick. Carolina was stuck with the controversial Cam Newton, who so many people around the NFL questioned and criticized before the draft. Yet even if Luck had turned pro, it is hard to imagine he could have matched what Newton has done for Carolina. Through eight games, Newton has passed for 2,393 yards -- more than any other rookie quarterback in history. Scouts continue to believe that Luck is the top quarterback prospect to come out of college in years, maybe since Peyton Manning. But there never has been a rookie quarterback who has produced or impressed the way Newton has.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/10spot-11week9/the-49ers-jim-harbaugh-made-hiring-college-head-coaches-fashionable-again-adam-schefter-10-spot

[Future of the Funchise]

*** yea

[4Corners]

awesome!

[fieryprophet]

Anyone else picking up that the "entertainer and icon" quote might actually become his calling card? It might go from being an out-of-context dig to a simple statement of fact.

[csx]

Anyone else picking up that the "entertainer and icon" quote might actually become his calling card? It might go from being an out-of-context dig to a simple statement of fact.

Maybe,....... if he starts doing Broadway musicals.

[Guest]

saweet!

[CarolinaNCSU]

Andrew Luck staying in school could've been the most heartbreaking, but also the best thing that has ever happened to this franchise.

[ncguy2184]

Hell Yeah!!!

[jayflip]

Football players are entertainers. We watch the games to be entertained. Great football players become iconic. There was nothing wrong with his statement before, and there is nothing wrong with it now. Pre draft, people were just looking for reasons to bash him, I mean, he could have gotten bubble guts from bad Mexican food and people would have smeared him to no end for it. This kid has captured the hearts of millions while also invoking the hate of millions. Polarizing doesn't even come close to explaining his personality. As has been stated a thousand times over: haters gonna hate, Slaters gonna Slate.

I'm glad he's setting the NFL on fire.

[Snake]

They prob will give Andy Dalton Roty for some god awful reason.

[TheOracle]

All this talk about Andy Dalton is a joke. The Bengals have experienced head-coaching, one of the best Defenses in the league statistically, and one of the easiest schedules in the league to date. We'll see what happens to their record, their defense, and their starting QB when they start playing better competition.

Newton got his numbers against better competition, including the Super Bowl Champs. Dalton went against weaker competition, and his numbers are worse. For people to even ACT LIKE he's close to the level of Newton just because of his team's record is DUMB and ridiculous.

[Panthercougar68]

Even if Cam doesn't win OROTY at the end of the season I will be fine with it because deep down I know we have the best QB of this class and we'll continue building from there.

[TheOracle]

Even if Cam doesn't win OROTY at the end of the season I will be fine with it because deep down I know we have the best QB of this class and we'll continue building from there.

If his 2nd half is like his 1st half and he doesn't get it, he was robbed by people who can't get over the fact that they were wrong about what he would have been.

Apparently, Peyton Manning didn't win Offensive Rookie of the Year, though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Rookie_of_the_Year_Award#AP_Offensive_Rookies_of_the_Year

[Grammer]

If his 2nd half is like his 1st half and he doesn't get it, he was robbed by people who can't get over the fact that they were wrong about what he would have been.

Apparently, Peyton Manning didn't win Offensive Rookie of the Year, though. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Rookie_of_the_Year_Award#AP_Offensive_Rookies_of_the_Year

well yeah he didn't, but he was up against randy moss, who had the greatest rookie season of all time