Cam Newton named NFL MVP

SAN FRANCISCO – Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton won his first career most valuable player award.

The fifth-year quarterback had one of the most productive seasons in NFL history at the position when he completed 59.8% of his passes for 3,837 yards and 35 touchdowns, compared with only 10 interceptions. He also added 636 rushing yards on 132 carries and 10 rushing scores, which was just one off of the tie for the NFL lead.

The award was announced Saturday night at the NFL Honors event held in the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Newton received 48 of 50 votes for the honor, with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer each getting one vote.

Newton also was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year.

"I'm very proud," Newton said. "We didn’t get in this position by happenstance. It took years of hard work and dedication."

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Newton, 26, will have a chance to add to his trophy case Sunday when the Panthers play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

If Newton can lead Carolina to a victory, he will be only the second player in NFL history to have won the Heisman Trophy, a college national championship, an MVP award and a Super Bowl, joining Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Newton’s season was the fact that he did it all with a supporting cast that lacked its best playmaker in the passing game. No. 1 receiver Kelvin Benjamin missed the entire year after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in training camp.

With tight end Greg Olsen and receivers Ted Ginn Jr., Jerricho Cotchery and Corey Brown, Newton led the Panthers to a 15-1 record in the regular season and then was the catalyst in Carolina’s two playoff victories.

In the postseason, Newton has completed 70% of his passes for 496 yards and has scored five total touchdowns against only one interception.

Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.

PHOTOS: Cam Newton's career in photos