Super Bowl 2016: Date, Media Day Schedule for Panthers vs. Broncos

Cam Newton's "dabbing" self has arrived at the Super Bowl scene at just the right time, with the NFL turning Super Bowl Media Day into one of the biggest events on the league's calendar.

One year removed from the "I'm just here so I don't get fined" shenanigans, the league will move the media day from its traditional Tuesday afternoon slot to a new prime-time event with one hour of interview time for each team.

The motive for the move is simple—it figures to mean nobody with an interest in the game will have a reason to miss out. With some of the characters involved, that's probably a good idea.

Media Day Details

When: Monday, February 1, at 8 p.m. ET

Where: SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

Television: NFL Network

The newly minted Super Bowl Opening Night promises to entertain.

Always a circus of media, from local to national to global, the NFL has the right idea on the mind by making the festivities an even bigger spectacle by moving it from a ho-hum Tuesday affair to a night event slated as the kicking-off point for the Super Bowl.

NFL's senior vice president of events Peter O'Reilly explained the rationale of the transition in the press release linked above:

"

We are excited to enhance an annual event and provide a unique experience for more fans in both the San Francisco Bay Area and nationwide, while continuing to provide access to the Super Bowl teams for media from around the world. By elevating the event to prime time, fans across the country can experience even more of the excitement of Super Bowl leading up to the game.

"

Like most years, the media will stampede from one guy to another. The biggest names get actual seats and audiences with microphones. The rest of the players involved with the game roam the floor of the event, wading through media.

Fans join the mass of humans, too. Outrageous costumes such as this one, captured by Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com last year, says it all:

This is a fun event and a celebration of the Super Bowl.

Newton going against Peyton Manning writes itself. Newton accounted for 45 total touchdowns on his lonesome in the regular season, allowing his Carolina Panthers to lose just one game before going into this potential passing-of-the-torch moment on the biggest stage of all.

Manning, benched earlier in the season while dealing with injuries, returned in Week 17, led the Denver Broncos to a win while looking relatively healthy and has since put himself in a position to potentially ride off into retirement with a Lombardi Trophy in hand.

But that's on-field stuff. This is about the opening night, and one has to imagine Manning, the guy who appears in countless commercials and puts on hilarious shows on Saturday Night Live, will be able to hold his own against Newton in the media circus.

Joseph Goodman of Alabama Media Group, for one, is quite excited about what Newton will do to counter his globally known counterpart:

Now would be the time for folks to get to know Newton and this particular event gives folks a pretty in-depth look at the guy who might be the new face of the league, but he also happens to be one of the most polarizing.

It's a chance to get to know plenty of players, really. Guys like Carolina defensive tackle Kawann Short, who isn't close to being a household name but should be after registering 11 sacks this year. Or corner Josh Norman, football's best at the position.

Norman in particular has already received tips on how to deal with the onslaught of media from NFL Network's Rich Eisen:

On the Denver side, observers can get a better look at C.J. Anderson, who ran for 720 yards and five scores this year with some huge clutch runs late in the year and in the postseason to help keep the team alive. Or maybe corner Chris Harris Jr., perhaps the most underrated corner in the league despite ranking third among all players at his position this year at Pro Football Focus.

The league has the right idea with turning media day into something bigger. It's a somewhat goofy event at times, but a chance for fans to get a more intimate look at their favorite players. 

It just so happens Manning and Newton brought themselves and the most interesting supporting casts around just in time for the change.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of January 30. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.