Cam Newton is going to the Pro Bowl! Newton will replace Eli Manning of the New York Giants at the annual NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Eli will be a little busy as he prepares for his Super Bowl rematch between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

Not only is it a feather in Cam Newton’s cap to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie it will help the Carolina Panthers. Profootballtalk.com suggests this will help the Panthers sign free agents who may meet Cam Newton at the Pro Bowl.

Cam Newton had a record setting rookie season for the Carolina Panthers despite being a somewhat controversial pick. Many Panthers fans wanted to wait and try to draft a quarterback in 2012. Some like me didn’t trust a spread offense quarterback to make the NFL transition. But others of course were racially motivated to pull against Cam Newton being a Carolina Panther.

Well I am glad to say I was wrong about the spread quarterback although the Panthers did use some of that offense this year. Clearly Cam Newton has the talent, desire, intelligence and work ethic to be a top NFL quarterback for years to come.

In Newton’s Pro Bowl rookie season he threw for 4,051 yards, 21 touchdown passes and only 17 interceptions. Newton also ran for 706 yards and an amazing 14 rushing touchdowns.

The NFL is more than happy that Cam Newton is going to the Pro Bowl. Since the Carolina Panthers were not seen in 2011 by most of the country fans now get a chance to see Cam Newton play. As a rising star in the NFL Cam Newton will draw fans to watch the Pro Bowl that may have not watched it otherwise.

Cam Newton joins wide receiver Steve Smith and center Ryan Kalil as Carolina Panthers playing in the Pro Bowl. While I still say linebacker James Anderson should have made the roster, I am happy that Cam Newton is replacing Eli Manning. You can bet we will see Cam Newton try to hit Steve Smith with a long pass in the Pro Bowl.

The first Pro Bowl is usually special for a player and I hope Cam Newton enjoys his time there. I also hope he lights up the AFC defense when he plays. Of course it isn’t a real game but with Cam Newton playing it should be entertaining this year.

Steve Smith and Ryan Kalil are the only two Carolina Panthers to make the NFL Pro Bowl. Which means Cam Newton and James Anderson got hosed in the Pro Bowl voting. Fan votes make up 1/3 of the process with player and coaches votes making up the rest to see who is selected in the Pro Bowl.

Of course players like Cam Newton and James Anderson DeAngelo Williams and others still may play in the Pro Bowl. Injuries, indifference and Super Bowl’s will pull some players out of the game. Tim Tebow didn’t make it in for the Broncos despite placing 3^rd in fan voting.

Cam Newton got hosed in the Pro Bowl voting but he will play in plenty of them in his NFL career. I was very happy to see Steve Smith make the Pro Bowl but I think Kalil made it for his big contract as much as for his on the field play.

Tight end Greg Olsen has the misfortune of being in the NFC with Jimmy Graham and Tony Gonzalez or he may well have made the Pro Bowl for the Carolina Panthers. James Anderson is a great player on a bad defense and didn’t get the recognition he deserved.

Trust me Cam Newton would be a popular choice by NFL officials to play in the Pro Bowl and I think he will as an alternate. After al lNewton set all kinds of records in his rookie season and is a fan favorite of people from all over the country.