Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Cam Newton looked very comfortable in his first NFL season. The defenders trying to stop him did not. That’s why Newton, quarterback of the Carolina Panthers, was the runaway winner of Sporting News Rookie of the Year award.

Newton, the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, received with 327 votes to Denver linebacker Von Miller’s 96.5. Voting was done by NFL players, coaches and executives.

Rookie of the year is the first of Sporting News’ 2011 NFL awards to be announced. Check back daily for other winners. A schedule of awards appears at the bottom of this story.

Questions about Newton’s ability to become a franchise quarterback disappeared almost as quickly as the 2010 Heisman Trophy winner runs the 40-yard dash. Newton doesn’t fit the mold of the classic dropback quarterback. He’s new-school, a multidimensional threat, dynamic as both a runner and passer.

Numbers alone do not tell Newton’s story, but they were impressive. He was the first rookie to throw for more than 4,000 yards. He set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

The former Auburn star put together one of the best rookie seasons of all time, and he did it coming out of a lockout, which meant he didn’t have the typical preparation time.

Those who were skeptical about Newton before the draft have been silenced. He threw the ball more accurately than expected, completing 60.0 percent of his 517 passes, and he made the Panthers fun to watch again. His competitive fire can’t be questioned.

“When you look at what Cam did and you match it up statistically with what any other rookie quarterback has ever done in the National Football League, it’s impressive,” ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck says. “When you factor in that he was thrown right into the fire, not having time to get reps. … To do what he did in terms of a passer as well as a runner in his first year is without a doubt as impressive as any performance I’ve ever seen from a rookie.”

Newton appears to be on his way to superstardom—and in a rush to get there. He has charisma, and he plays the league’s marquee position. The only thing missing is that he has not turned the Panthers into winners—yet. That’s what Newton has in mind for an encore. Is there a sophomore slump in his future? Don’t count on it.

The Panthers finished 6-10, a vast improvement over last season when they were 2-14 with the NFL’s worst record.

(STORY CONTINUES…)
WRITTEN BY ASN – Clifton Brown & FULL STORY HERE