Debating Cam Newton’s M.V.P. Credentials

Fans love running signal callers. Cam Newton likes to run, and he has already had one serious injury. How long do you think he'll last? Check the roster of running quarterbacks.

Carolina runs the ball more than any other team in the league, so comparing passing stats isn't always an even comparison. Brady has 507 passing attempts while Newton has 373. Give Newton another 134 attempts, at 7.6 adjusted yards per attempt, and he'd only be 200 yards behind Brady in passing. Then add the 400+ rushing yards and Newton has 200 more yards of offense. I think the argument could be made that a player who can run or pass is more valuable than a player who can only beat you with passing...especially when that player hasn't lost a game all year. As for the comment about the credit for Carolina's wins going to the defense, I think the real defensive stat you need to look at is points given up per game. When you compare these, Carolina and New England are almost even at 20.3 vs. 20.6 points per game. If the award were given today, it should go to Newton.

still put Brady befor Cam ...look at what he's doin wit backup players I don't Cam can do what Brady's doin righ now wit very less

Tom Brady turns out the be an average QB when his offensive line cannot protect him. That's what happened Sunday. Not sure about Cam Newton but I don't believe Brady should be considered for MVP.

The argument can be made that the quarterback position is the most valuable on every team. However I wonder if part of the decision process for choosing MVP should also consider salary. Some quarterbacks' value would diminish and some increase if pay were included - often a key component in measuring value outside of sports.

Newton currently earns $20 million per year and Brady $14 million. Carson Palmer earns $16.5 million annually.

Brady does more with less and for less than the other two.

As the title of the award indicates (duh), the recipient should be the player who provides the most VALUE to his team in achieving its success. Not passer rating or yardage. Brady is the perfect fit to a well oiled machine and it is hard not to be impressed at his ability, when he gets protection, to stand tall and deliver a precise pass to his receivers running a crossing route underneath coverage. But could Brady improvise, manufacture, and excel at both passing far downfield and running in the open field were that machine to break down? Or morph from a pocket passer to a scrambler, with equal effectiveness? Not a chance. As for Palmer, let's see, Mr. Mather, if the Cardinals get through the Seahawks, Eagles, and Packers - all of whom could not stop Newton.

If the Panthers go undefeated. Newton seems like a shoo-in, But if they lose a couple, they'll give the MVP to the best player on the best team, and that will be Carson Palmer. Mark my words, he's the best of the bunch this year.

I think you are forgetting that Cam Newton doesn't care what you think. He is about winning and will continue to do that no matter what is written and how much he fails to fit your mold

Hoffman ably defends Cam Newton's right to the MVP title. Then we have Mather, who can't even bring himself to say Brady deserves it, picking Carson Palmer instead. This is not about just QB stats as Mather thinks. Newton is a leader. Ask the Panther's defense. Newton is the MVP. Go Eagles.

Indeed, yes. Look at the record of the team. Look at the number of TDs (not the number of TD passes alone). Look at the joy he brings to the game.
I for one, middle-aged white woman, adore his celebrations and all the things he's dissed for.
You bet - MVP.

He's not the MVP if you consider strength of schedule.

He's playing in one of the weakest divisions and other than the Seahawks, what good teams have they played?

The Panthers without Newton would be hapless. He makes everyone better on that team, and he demands that they be better. Watching him grab teammates and move them around on the field and get in guys' faces or wrap an arm around others shoulders for a quick consultation made clear how much of a driver he is of the offense. The Patriots without Brady might not be as good, but they'd still have Belichick. He'd figure out a way.

Mather dismisses the Eagles win over the Patriots, and suggest that the Panthers could easily be 9-3. However, the Patriots nearly lost, and perhaps should have lost against the Giants, and could themselves be 9-3.

And while certain running quarterbacks had more running yards per game, I think their games were more one-dimensional that Cam Newton's, who this season is clearly thinking pass first, then run. By comparison, Tim Tebow wasn't even deemed a competent NFL quarterback by front office decision-makers.

Cam looks astonishing right now, but then so does Andy Dalton every year around this time.

Feels as though poor Victor got assigned "No" and tried his best to make it work. Good effort, sir, but that task was too large for any mortal.

The season is not over yet, is it?

Another approach would be to consider, hypothetically, of course, if the players were traded, which team would benefit more (or suffer less). The Yes vs. No approach presented works well enough, though. I found myself nodding with the supporting comments of Yes and picking at the relevance of No.

Since it appears increasingly likely this season that my Giants won't get to pummel New England a 3rd straight time at the Big Dance, I'll prepare a feast anyway if it turns out the Panthers play the Pats in Super Bowl 50.

Were it not for its bungled 2-yard gimme touchdown in the final minute of last year's Super Bowl, the Seahawks would have beat Brady and the boys -- just as the Giants have TWICE (2008, 2012).

This time, in ironic contrast to Eli Manning's patience and grace, Cam Newton's flash, size, brawn, speed, and persistence will get the job done.

Cam Newton is now clearly the best player in the NFL, despite his tender age.

As Mark Twain famously said, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics. Mather's argument for Brady relies too much on a few narrowly focused stats. And his analysis of Sunday's loss to the Eagles smacks of excuse-making. In fact, Brady's poor play contributed greatly to the Pats' loss. Not an MVP performance. Tom Brady has been a great quarterback, but this season, he has been very one-dimensional. Cam Newton is the better PLAYER, by far.

When toting Brady how can you say that the 99-yard interception returned for a touchdown by the Eagles was a "fluke play." Usually such horrible interceptions thrown on the goal line would be considered a black mark against the quarterback and not dismissed as "fluke"

Brady is a master while Newton is still learning, but oh my is Newton a terrific quarterback and will be a team leader for the Panthers for years and years. We are fortunate to have such a pair of team leaders just now.

Rob Gronkowski is the MVP.