Despite a record-setting rookie season, quarterback Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers was not selected to the Pro Bowl.
He isn't pouting over it.
"Who am I to be mad at the fact that I'm the first alternate?" Newton said with a wide smile Wednesday.
Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Eli Manning were selected over Newton, even though Manning has seven fewer total touchdowns.
Newton said he was "honored" to be selected as a first alternate and knows there's a good chance he might wind up in the game if one of those ahead of him pulls out or if the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints or New York Giants reach the Super Bowl, which will be played a week after the Pro Bowl.
"Those three guys are at the peak of their game," Newton said.
Still, coach Ron Rivera of the Panthers said Newton deserves to go, citing his ability to make plays with his feet. Newton has 20 touchdowns passing and an NFL-record 14 rushing.
Manning, by comparison, has 27 touchdowns — 26 passing and one rushing. But Manning has more passing yards (4,587) than Newton (3,893) and a slightly higher quarterback rating. Both have 16 interceptions.
"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 have led in 14 of 15 games this season, but they are just 6-9 because they've struggled to close out games in the fourth quarter.
All things considered, Newton has had a remarkable season and is a top candidate for the NFL's rookie of the year award.
He has broken Peyton Manning's rookie record for yards passing in a season and Steve Grogan's 35-year-old record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
On Sunday against the Saints, Newton needs 107 yards passing to become the first quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards and run for 500 in the same season.
Coach Sean Payton of the Saints wouldn't divulge who he voted for in the Pro Bowl but said Newton has been impressive. He also thinks Newton will end up in the game one way or the other.
"He's going to have a ton of opportunities to play in the Pro Bowl," Payton said. "To be a rookie with no offseason and literally no minicamp and to report to training camp and do what he's done is amazing.... He's a guy that I see in that game. Unfortunately he's also in our division."
When asked if he has exceeded his own expectations, Newton said: "I'm all about how team success plays out, and our record is not where we want to be. My goal before this year was to make it to the playoffs. We had ample opportunities to make that happen, and I think we dropped the ball on that."
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