Cam Newton is quite simply the best player in the NFL today
America, meet the best player in the NFL.He's a smile-wearing, dab-doing, touchdown-throwing, touchdown-running, team-leading, football-giving, cat.Ladies and gentlemen, it's Mr. .And it is flat-out fantastic that the face of the NFL is in the .He's talented, big-hearted, confident-on-the-border-of-cocky, and he has this gift. And oh, it's a gift. plays his best when it matters the most. is built for this stage.I've been on record all year calling the the most complete team in the NFL; the best roster, 1-53, in the entire league. I picked Arizona to win on Sunday.Nope.This was an old-fashioned demolition, with Newton leading the way -- .Wow.Cam's touch
Jim Rice Jersey was on display. His toughne s was on display. Cam's arm was on display. His legs were on display.There's also another way to view it: This is the norm. This is what megastars do. This is what the best players in a sport do. This is what Steph Curry does. This is.Early in his career, Cam didn't get it. Then, two months ago, . Newton has totally changed for the better. He's grown and matured. And you have to recognize it. His teammates pointed it out to me earlier in this glorious season for the .On my SiriusXM Radio show, "Schein on Sports," said: "As a young kid, he came in and had
Blake Swihart Jersey a lot thrown on his shoulders early. But now, he's grown into the leader that we fully expected him to become, and his maturity level has gone up tremendously accepting that role." told me, "He's a clutch guy. He thrives in those moments. When things aren't going our way, he gets it done."Indeed he does. And now, as Newton prepares to take the biggest stage in American sports, it's time to give him his due.I am one of the 50 voters for The A sociated Pre s' NFL awards. And when it came to MVP, I didn't hesitate casting my vote this time around. I voted Cam. He earned it. His stats -- including 35 pa sing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns -- are dazzling. But the raw numbers only tell you so much. The 26-year-old quarterback, quite simply, carried this 21-year-old franchise to new heights. After losing his top wide receiver () in the preseason -- and consequently, having many folks give up on his team's chances of contention -- Cam proceeded to guide the to an NFL-best 15-1 regular-season mark, scoring in the proce
Jackie Bradley Jr Jersey s. The fourth-quarter comebacks were signature moments for Newton.But I want to confe s something. I didn't vote Cam as Offensive Player of the Year -- giving that honor to . And while I did select Newton as my first-team All-Pro quarterback, I paused for a minute before typing in his name. Maybe it was the 59.8 percent completion rate. Maybe it was the respect I had for what Brady and accomplished throughout the regular season, or how played in the second half.There's no more pause. There's no more hesitation. is the best player in the NFL. Nobody does more. is dreamy -- a guy who has everything you want in a signal caller, a guy who makes ex-quarterbacks-turned-analysts rightfully drool when talking about his gifts. (I, of course, drool over his gifts, too.) Brady is Brady -- the man with four Lombardi Trophies, three MVPs and two regular-season MVPs. Cam's going to play in 50 against a living legend (and five-time league MVP) in .But let's be honest: While respecting the skills and completion percentages of all of the above QBs, Cam's the best player in the league today. had another season for the ages. Cam's the best player in the league, having just led his team to the with a 34-point NFC title game smackdown.The haters are just going
Dustin Pedroia Jersey to have to deal with it.Look, I could understand questioning Cam's act a few years ago. I did, as mentioned above. But you have to acknowledge he is different -- and amazing.And with what we've seen from Newton in the 2015 campaign, I actually no longer understand the hate. I don't understand why you wouldn't consider Cam the face of the NFL. dances and dabs. So what? Watt brazenly celebrates -- and sometimes takes faux selfies -- after QB sacks. Rodgers skips and jumps around and does the Discount Double Check. What's the difference? If you're cool with Watt and Rodgers -- but not Cam -- you should check yourself. If you have an i sue with Cam dancing, keep him out of the end zone. does so much good in the community, helping the youth with extensive charitable works and routinely lifting sick kids with hospital visits. He should receive more credit for this.It's amazing that Cam, at this stage, could still be polarizing. It'
Carlton Fisk Jersey s staggering to me that, when we bring him up on the radio, his likability is actually questioned. has become everything right with the NFL.Now, you have two weeks to appreciate the game's best player (if, for whatever reason, you don't already)., the face of the NFL, in . It's perfect.Follow Adam Schein on Twitter .