NFL Fact or Fiction: Cam Newton Has Already Won Offensive Rookie of the Year

Cam Newton created quite a bit of controversy when he entered the league this year. His opinion of how he felt about himself had many fans and analysts scratching their heads at how a player thought so highly of himself without even playing a down in the NFL.

Fast forward a couple months and now we are scratching our heads thinking, "Why did we ever doubt him?"

Newton has captivated the national audience in a way that we haven't seen since Michael Vick's rookie year. But does that mean we can already crown him the offensive rookie of the year?

A Look at Cam Newton's Numbers

As with most arguments, let's begin with a rundown of the passing numbers for Cam Newton so far this year.

Passing: 60.2 completion percentage, 2,605 yards, 11 TDs, 10 INTs

Looking at his passing statistics, Newton ranks ahead of some bigger names like Philip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco in total yards.

He also ranks ahead of guys like Flacco, Michael Vick and Josh Freeman with his TD number.

His negative stats are the completion percentage (ranked No. 20 overall) and his interceptions (tied for No. 7 overall).

Cam Newton: Dual Threat

Coming from a spread offense in college, Cam Newton is no stranger to finding a running lane and taking off.

The Panthers have even worked in some option plays this year to utilize Newton's athletic ability.

Here's how Newton has done when using his legs, instead of his arm.

Rushing: 70 attempts, 374 yards, 7 TDs

Newton is actually in second place right now with total yards, ahead of other rookies who have way more attempts like Mark Ingram and Daniel Thomas. His TD number ranks first among rookies in the league.

What Do Cam Newton Stats Tell Us?

Looking at just the numbers by themselves, Cam Newton is one of the better QBs in the league. He's averaging almost 290 yards per game and is in the top half as far as QB rating goes.

The TD-to-INT ratio could be better but that's to be expected from a rookie QB.

When you look at his rushing statistics, Newton has arguably been the second-best rookie rusher in the league this year. Only DeMarco Murray has more yards than Newton, and the closest rookie RB in TDs is Mark Ingram (three).

What About His Competition?

What about Cam Newton's competition for Offensive Rookie of the Year?

In the QB comparison, his competition comes from Bengals QB Andy Dalton. Dalton has thrown for fewer yards, but has three more TDs and one less interception.

Dalton has also lead his team to a 6-3 record, while Newton has led the Panthers to 2-7 record.

As far as RBs go, DeMarco Murray has made a big splash the past few weeks with his rushing attack and could possibly steal some votes if he can continue to put up big numbers.

Verdict?

You really can't argue that anyone but Cam Newton deserve the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

He's not a pure pocket passer, so although Andy Dalton has thrown more TDs, Newton has more total scores overall. He also has thrown for 739 more yards.

The Panthers may not have a great record but we certainly can't fault Newton for that. The award is supposed to go to the best rookie offensive player, not the best rookie offensive player on the best team.

Newton has put up the numbers and will likely be a star next year if he can work on eliminating the mistakes and the Panthers get better as a team overall.

Verdict: Give the man the award!