Panthers QB Cam Newton satisfied with being first alternate in NFC Pro-Bowl team - NFL News
The Pro-Bowl rosters have been announced and to the chagrin of Panthers Coach Ron Rivera and the fans their high flying rookie quarterback Cam Newton did not make the main squad.
However, Newton is not disappointed in making the squad and is happy with being the first alternate pick considering the names ahead of him in the line up.
"Who am I to be mad at the fact that I'm the first alternate?" Newton said. "Those three guys are at the peak of their game,"
Newton is behind some of the best quarterbacks to grace the National Football League. Most Valued Player contenders Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay Packers and Drew Brees of New Orleans Saints have been voted as the first two quarterbacks in the National Football
Conference side while New York Giants Eli Manning beat off competition to become the third choice.
Manning’s performances have been equally strong with Cam Newton but the Giants quarterback has better passing yards statistics and his team’s better record in the regular season may have tilted the balance in his favour. Newton on the other hand overtakes
Manning if rushing yards and touchdowns are incorporated in the comparison. Newton broke the record for the most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback in his first year in the National Football League with 14.
The rookie quarterback has had one of the best seasons for a first year starter in the league and is in the front of the pack to win the Rookie Player of the Year award.
Coach Ron Rivera believes that Newton’s performances deserved a Pro-Bowl Call up.
"I'm disappointed," Rivera said. "He's first alternate, but still. People talk about the numbers weren't as good as some of the other guys. But I disagree because of the combined numbers -- not just throwing the ball, but running the ball."
The Panthers already have two players in the first choice line up of the National Football Conference team in Centre Ryan Kalil and Wide Receiver Steve Smith and with Rodgers or Brees favourites to take their respective teams to the Super Bowl Newton has
a great chance to be included in the team.
The Panthers have had a good season which with a bit of luck could have taken the side to the playoffs. The Panthers are 6-9 and if they had not lost many of their games in the final quarter the franchise could easily be preparing for the postseason.
Newton however, has had a brilliant rookie season and if he continues with his form in 2012 the Panthers fans can look forward to reaching next year’s postseason.
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