By Steve Reed
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith said when it comes to comparing Cam Newton to Tim Tebow there is no comparison.
Smith said time will prove Newton is by far the better NFL quarterback.
ěIf Tebow is standing next to me I would tell it to his face ó come check me out in five years, Jack, and youíll know whoís the best quarterback,î Smith said.
Newton is 4-9 as a starter, although heís put up incredible individual numbers. He has a chance to become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and run for 500 in the same season. He already has 554 yards rushing and needs only 427 yards passing to reach 4,000.
Tebow is 6-1 as a starter this year for Denver with five impressive come-from-behind victories. But Smith believes Denverís defense isnít getting enough credit for the Broncos playoff push.
Smith said Newtonís versatility makes him a better quarterback.
ěEverybody wants to crown Tebow as a versatile quarterback,î Smith said. ěVersatile to me means you can throw the ball very accurately, run the ball and create things. The only he can create is running. He isnít very accurate.î
Tebow has won more games than Newton this year, but that doesnít matter to Smith.
ěYou canít compare Cam to Tebow. I think Camís a more complete player,î Smith said. ěTebow has the wins. But everybody wants to crown Tebow. Yes, he has the will to win. I think Tebow is no different than any other professional (in that way). But Tebow has a great opportunity to play behind a great defense.î
Denver has allowed the fourth-fewest points in the league; the injury-plagued Panthers defense ranks 22nd in points allowed.
Smith pointed to Tebowís statistics in the first three quarters of last Sundayís game against Chicago ó he was 3 of 16 ó as an example of his inaccurate arm and lack of accuracy in the passing game.
ěThatís not a versatile quarterback,î Smith said.
Still, Tebow has been able to do what Newton hasnít ó win games late.
The Panthers have led in 12 of 13 games this year, but have lost six contests when theyíve led in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, Tebow has five game-winning drives in the fourth quarter this year and six for his career.
In Denver, the fourth quarter has become known as ěTebow Time.î
Panthers center Ryan Kalil said he doesnít see too many similarities between the two quarterbacks.
ěThey are two different players,î Kalil said. ěI donít know much about Tebow other than the highlights, but I think theyíre different. If I had to choose one it would be my guy. Everyone keeps tagging this thing that heís a winner, but itís not one man, itís a football team. I think theyíre playing good as a football team.î
Kalil said Newton is a once-in-a-lifetime quarterback.
ěI do,î Kalil said. ěHeís young and he has a lot of room to grow. I think heís already shown heís pretty darn phenomenal.î