CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Debating who is better between Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers really isn’t a debate.
Statistically, Wilson wins almost every category.
Perhaps the debate should be on whether Wilson would have gotten a chance to develop into a Super Bowl winning quarterback had the Panthers drafted him in 2012 instead of Seattle.
Actually, that wouldn’t be much of a debate, either. The Panthers were and are committed to Newton.
But Carolina did look at the quarterback it will face on Sunday as a potential backup for Newton, the first pick of the 2011 draft. Panthers management believed Wilson’s running ability made him a good candidate to run a similar offense to Newton, should Newton get hurt.
The Panthers just weren’t willing to use a third-round pick on the 5-foot-11 dynamo, as Seattle did. They only were looking at him as a late-round pick if he fell that far.
So Wilson likely would have wasted away on the bench, just as he would have at New Orleans, Green Bay and San Diego, three other teams that showed interest before the draft.
“This league is like that, being in the right place at the right time," said Carolina backup quarterback Derek Anderson. “It’s not necessarily if you have the ability or don’t have the ability. I’ve got buddies that played just a couple of years in this league, but easily could have played 10.
“The situation by him going there worked perfect."
It worked out well for both teams. Newton has been a two-time Pro Bowl selection, leading Carolina to a 12-4 record last season. Wilson is a two-time Pro Bowl pick with a Super Bowl ring.
“I remember the Carolina Panthers talking to me and the GM and the coaching staff and all that in terms of trying to bring me in for the Panthers," Wilson recalled. “Obviously, I wanted to play. I believed that my height didn’t define my skill set.
“It has worked out well for me. Just to be in the NFL is an amazing thing; you don’t take that for granted."
Wilson has a 27-11 record as a starter, including a victory over Denver in the Super Bowl. Newton has a 27-26-1 record and is 0-1 in the playoffs.
Wilson has completed 64 percent of his career passes for 62 touchdowns. Newton is at 59.9 percent for 72 touchdowns in 16 more starts.
Newton’s biggest edge over Wilson is in rushing touchdowns. He has 29 to Wilson’s eight. The Panthers use Newton more on goal-line runs because of his size.
But in terms of rushing average, Wilson is at 5.9 yards per attempt to Newton’s 5.5.
Many will say they are the same player – minus six inches in height – because they both run. But Wilson picks up more of his rush yards off scrambling. Newton has more plays designed for him to run out of the read option.
“Some of the things that he does I don’t necessarily try to do, just because of the size difference he has over me," Wilson said.
Newton says Wilson is fun to watch, but reiterates they’re two different players. Wilson has a lot of admiration for Newton.
That the two never competed for a spot is a plus.
“A lot of times you get picked wherever somebody takes you, and for me, I was prepared to go wherever," Wilson said. “But I just believed that where I was selected I was going to make 31 other teams regret it, and that was my mindset.”