Cam Newton has won is the 2011 offensive rookie of the year for the Associated Press.Newton got 47 of the 50 votes with Andy Dalton of the Bengals getting another three.

For most of the season it seemed like Newton and Daltonwere neck and neck for offensive rookie of the year. But Cam Newton won the offensive rookie of the year because he set numerous NFL records.  In most other years Andy Dalton would have won the award but Cam Newton clearly outplayed him.

Cam Newton passed for over 4,000 yards and rushed for over 500. In addition he scored 14 rushing touchdowns. Newton did have some turnover issues but most rookie quarterbacks do. Cam Newton played with poise for most of the season and set the bar for all rookie quarterbacks coming into the NFL now.

Since many Carolina Panthers fans wanted Andrew Luck we were devastated when he went back to college for another year. But clearly we owe Luck a debt of gratitude for giving us Cam Newton.

Considering that Cam Newton didn’t have the benefit of much offseason work with the Carolina Panthers due to the NFL lockout, his rookie season was even more remarkable. If Cam applies that same work ethic for his entire career we have a special quarterback indeed.