Cam Newton is on the quick checklist of the best dual-threats in NFL historical past. Newton, although, would not really feel that he’s one of the best twin menace in league annals.
As a substitute of giving it to himself, the longtime Carolina Panthers quarterback and former league MVP gave that honor to the NFL’s reigning league MVP.
“Lamar Jackson,” Newton stated on his podcast.
Newton then defined why he selected Jackson over himself.
“Effectively, Lamar’s model is a bit completely different than mine,” Newton stated. “He is obtained massive play [potential], any play. He is obtained velocity that I by no means had, and he is simply electrical. After which, I performed the sport extra highly effective. I can run, however I am most likely going to get caught. Lamar, (Michael) Vick, they’re ain’t getting caught.”
Newton could not have been as fast as Jackson, however he was truly extra productive as a runner so far as touchdowns are involved. The truth is, Newton’s 75 profession speeding touchdowns are probably the most in NFL historical past by a quarterback, 22 greater than the next-closest quarterback, Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Jackson’s 29 landing runs put him in a tie with Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson and former Eagles/Washington quarterback Donovan McNabb for the Twentieth-most amongst quarterbacks.
As a rookie, Newton ran for 14 touchdowns, which stood as the one season file for landing runs by a quarterback till Allen and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts each ran for 15 scores this previous season. Newton and Hurts are the one quarterbacks to run for at the very least 10 touchdowns in three completely different seasons.
Whereas profitable, Newton’s bodily model doubtless contributed to his considerably abbreviated profession. Newton final performed within the NFL in 2021, at age 32. The Ravens, in an effort to assist extend Jackson’s profession, modified their offense final season to incorporate extra cross makes an attempt and fewer working performs that includes Jackson, who in 2019 broke Vick’s single-season file for speeding yards by a quarterback.
Baltimore’s method paid dividends, as Jackson stayed wholesome, gained league MVP and led the Ravens to the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Jackson additionally nonetheless confirmed that he’s nonetheless the league’s greatest working quarterback, even when he would not run as a lot as he used to. Final season, Jackson led the NFL in yards-per-carry common for the third time in his profession.
Jackson could have the title as the sport’s best twin menace, however the best twin menace that gained a Tremendous Bowl stays former 49ers quarterback Steve Younger, who threw six touchdowns and was additionally the sport’s main rusher in Tremendous Bowl XXIX.
Jackson, who has but to get to the large sport, is definitely trying to take that title from Younger earlier than his profession is over.