Cam Newton Greatest rookie season ever ?

[Kurb]

http://www.foxsportscarolinas.com/01/01/12/Newtons-rookie-season-is-one-for-the-age/landing_panthers.html?blockID=637740&feedID=3736

This guy thinks so.

There's only one rookie season in NFL history that stands up to Newton's 2011 campaign. Make this argument and — though I'll still disagree — I won't do battle until I'm red in the face.

That argument is named Lawrence Taylor. In 1981, Taylor redefined the position of linebacker. He had 9.5 sacks (though the NFL did not officially keep the statistic until the following season) and was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The New York Giants turned around from 4-12 to 9-7, changed the league's second-worst defense into the third best.

But no position has the learning curve of a quarterback. And that's why, even though the Year of the Quarterback might have inflated Newton's numbers, I still pick Cam.

[boo7382]

thx. stealing.

[Kurb]

xoxo

[Panthro]

Taylor, Dickerson.....Newton

I'm ok with anyway you want to arrange it.

[Peppers90 NC]

I concur. Dickerson was nice but there have been a lot of great rookie rb seasons.

[SmootsDaddy89]

Wrong bro. DALTON BRO DALTON.

[Peppers90 NC]

Wrong bro. DALTON BRO DALTON.

Man I keep forgetting about him, it must be Cam's shadow standing in the way.

[Chaos]

Looks like LT was the reason they started tracking sacks as a stat. lol

Full homer here - Cam hands down. It's all the other pieces to the puzzle: limited college experience, different brand of offense, no offseason, new coaching staff, etc.

[Panthro]

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/nflrookies.html

[dpm0409]

"It's still a learning process for me," Newton said. "I learned so much the entire season. I can do so many things better."

That's a worrying thought for anyone playing the Panthers in 2012: Despite what could go down as the finest rookie season in history, Newton's only gonna get better.

^ This. makes me wish it was August already

[Dpantherman]

If you considered the positions and ranked how difficult it is the come in right away and not only be effective, but be at or near the top (or even in the discussion for that matter) of the game at that position. QB has to be at the top.

[The_Mango55]

It's almost impossible to compare positions and it's annoying when people do it.

Anyone who says that someone is the best player in the NFL makes me roll my eyes, especially since it's almost always a QB or RB.

If an offensive lineman never gives up sacks, always block's a team's best rusher without requiring a double team, and makes key blocks to open running lanes without holding; who is to say anyone in the NFL is better than he is, just because that player plays a higher profile position?

[Panthro]

Left Tackles don't exactly make minimum wage

[boo7382]

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/list/nflrookies.html

hahah that's awesome