Newton not resting on his laurels

He threw for more yards than any rookie in the history of the NFL.

He is the first quarterback in league history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and run for more than 500 yards. He is a lock to be named offensive rookie of the year and his team won four more games than it did a year ago.

Instead of reveling in a superb rookie season, Cam Newton states the Carolina Panthers’ 10 losses will keep him looking for ways to improve.

“It’s going to be a learning process,” Newton said. “I learned so much throughout this season; that’s going to continuously make me better. I have so much respect for this league and playing in it.

“A lot of people don’t understand what goes into being a football player in this league — let alone the quarterback. There’s a lot of things I’ve learned and it’s made me appreciate football even more.”

NFL defences may not want to see the former Auburn star play any better than he did this year. He completed 310 of 517 passes for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 706 yards and 14 scores. He’ll want to cut back on his 17 interceptions, but he led Carolina’s offence to a 389-yards-per-game output that was seventh best in the NFL.

After opening the season with a pair of 400-yard passing games, Newton continued to progress. Carolina, which took Newton with the number one overall draft pick after going 2-14 in 2010, won four of its last six games in 2011 to finish 6-10.

Newton said he’s not yet sure where he’ll spend the offseason, but after an abbreviated offseason this year due to the lockout, he wants to go through a full slate of minicamps and other training opportunities.

“It’s going to help — I can’t even explain how (much). This season took me by storm. I look forward to next season. I’m trying to better myself and do my part in making this offence an elite-caliber team next year.

“Throughout the season, there’s been ups, downs, good and bad, but at the end of the day when you put your head on that pillow, you have to know you’re making the right step forward in your goal.”