Through the eyes of top NFL evaluators, the MVP race may already be over.
An informal survey of six NFL general managers — three from each conference — on Wednesday yielded five votes for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and one for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
“In my opinion, it’s not even close,” one GM said, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. “It’s Cam for sure.”
Newton, 26, isn’t exactly a controversial pick, considering he plays the most important position on a Panthers team that’s 14-0, two wins away from completing a rare unbeaten regular season.
But the former No. 1 draft pick’s rise is remarkable considering the way he was perceived within the league as recently as one year ago and the evolution of his game as a passer at a time when the Panthers aren’t exactly loaded with receiving threats.
“They lose (No. 1 receiver) Kelvin Benjamin early,” another GM said. “I know they’ve had a good defense. But I really feel like he’s carried their team. He’s stepped up and made critical throws when he needs to. He’s shown great leadership. Otherwise it’d be — who else?”
Probably Brady, who at one point had 20 touchdown passes and one interception on the way to a 10-0 start for the Patriots before injuries left them without three top weapons (running back Dion Lewis, receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski) for various stretches. The Patriots offensive line has been a mess, too. Carolina arguably has a better defense and the more talented runner with Jonathan Stewart. The GM who voted for Brady pointed out the Panthers had six Pro Bowl picks on offense to the Patriots’ two.
But since Benjamin’s knee injury in training camp, Newton has been throwing to one legitimate matchup threat (tight end Greg Olsen) and the likes of Ted Ginn, Jerricho Cotchery, Corey Brown and rookie Devin Funchess at receiver. Only Brady (35) has more touchdown passes than Newton’s 33, and no team has scored more points than the Panthers’ 449.
“I always thought he was kind of inaccurate and kind of a (jerk),” the first GM said of Newton. “But he’s growing up, and he’s making big-time plays. Because they’re not really that talented.”
Perhaps most important, Newton has begun to win from the pocket, which makes him a triple threat because of his ability to create and run when he needs to. His 580 yards and seven touchdowns rushing lead all quarterbacks, and his 98.7 passer rating is easily a career best.
Brady’s pocket feel is among the best in the game. But Newton can make a protection unit look better, too, in part because his 6-5, 245-pound frame dwarfs many linebackers.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has had an excellent season. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson have been lights-out lately. But none of the GMs interviewed here put them in the same category.
The recognized MVP award is voted on by a nationwide panel of 50 media members (including me) who regularly cover the league — ballots are submitted before the playoffs — and will be revealed Feb. 6 at the NFL Honors event before Super Bowl 50.
Barring some sort of remarkable turn in the next two weeks, the race probably is down to two, or maybe one.
Pelissero: GMs think Panthers' Cam Newton has already locked up MVP award
An informal survey of six NFL general managers — three from each conference — on Wednesday yielded five votes for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and one for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
“In my opinion, it’s not even close,” one GM said, speaking on condition of anonymity for competitive reasons. “It’s Cam for sure.”
Newton, 26, isn’t exactly a controversial pick, considering he plays the most important position on a Panthers team that’s 14-0, two wins away from completing a rare unbeaten regular season.
But the former No. 1 draft pick’s rise is remarkable considering the way he was perceived within the league as recently as one year ago and the evolution of his game as a passer at a time when the Panthers aren’t exactly loaded with receiving threats.
“They lose (No. 1 receiver) Kelvin Benjamin early,” another GM said. “I know they’ve had a good defense. But I really feel like he’s carried their team. He’s stepped up and made critical throws when he needs to. He’s shown great leadership. Otherwise it’d be — who else?”
Probably Brady, who at one point had 20 touchdown passes and one interception on the way to a 10-0 start for the Patriots before injuries left them without three top weapons (running back Dion Lewis, receiver Julian Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski) for various stretches. The Patriots offensive line has been a mess, too. Carolina arguably has a better defense and the more talented runner with Jonathan Stewart. The GM who voted for Brady pointed out the Panthers had six Pro Bowl picks on offense to the Patriots’ two.
But since Benjamin’s knee injury in training camp, Newton has been throwing to one legitimate matchup threat (tight end Greg Olsen) and the likes of Ted Ginn, Jerricho Cotchery, Corey Brown and rookie Devin Funchess at receiver. Only Brady (35) has more touchdown passes than Newton’s 33, and no team has scored more points than the Panthers’ 449.
“I always thought he was kind of inaccurate and kind of a (jerk),” the first GM said of Newton. “But he’s growing up, and he’s making big-time plays. Because they’re not really that talented.”
Perhaps most important, Newton has begun to win from the pocket, which makes him a triple threat because of his ability to create and run when he needs to. His 580 yards and seven touchdowns rushing lead all quarterbacks, and his 98.7 passer rating is easily a career best.
Brady’s pocket feel is among the best in the game. But Newton can make a protection unit look better, too, in part because his 6-5, 245-pound frame dwarfs many linebackers.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has had an excellent season. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson have been lights-out lately. But none of the GMs interviewed here put them in the same category.
The recognized MVP award is voted on by a nationwide panel of 50 media members (including me) who regularly cover the league — ballots are submitted before the playoffs — and will be revealed Feb. 6 at the NFL Honors event before Super Bowl 50.
Barring some sort of remarkable turn in the next two weeks, the race probably is down to two, or maybe one.
Pelissero: GMs think Panthers' Cam Newton has already locked up MVP award
