Newton Is Top Offensive Rookie Over Dalton

Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will have to wait at least one more season before he receives his first award from the NFL. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has won the offensive rookie of the year award. Newton received 47 first place votes, while Dalton had three first place votes. While Dalton helped lead the Bengals to the playoffs in his rookie year, Newton had far better numbers than Dalton. Dalton had 20 touchdown passes and passed for 3,398 yards, while Newton had 21 touchdown passes and threw for 4,051 yards. Those numbers seem to be close enough to sway the award to the guy that took his team to the playoffs. The statistics that put Newton over Dalton were undoubtedly his 706 rushing yards and his NFL record 14 rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

No matter which of these young quarterbacks won the award, both seem to be farther ahead than most expected they would be at this point. Dalton may have fell just short on winning the award, but getting his team into the playoffs almost certainly overshadows that. A full off season working with offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese can only help Dalton further his development and get closer to achieving his own award.