NFL.com Rookie of the Year nominees..

[Upton]

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Von Miller, Denver Broncos

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals

Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers


You can vote for your favorite here...

http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2011/YEAR/0?module=HP11_content_stream_voting_pepsi

[Auggie]

1. Has to be Dalton

He took the Bengals to the playoffs

[maximusveritas]

6. He definitely deserves some credit for that,

but he didn't do it single-handedly and his individual performance was not even in the same league as Newton.

[Auggie]

7. It's not all about stats

But I'll be honest -- I haven't seen much of these guys. I base my observation solely on the outcome: making the playoffs.

[JonLP24]

8. The other way to look at it

Is how successful team-wise would Cam Newton be with Cincinnati's defense. Cincinnati is T-7 in pass defense(YPA) while Carolina is dead last in pass defense. Conversely, how successful would Dalton be with Carolina's atrochious year.

I think Newton was phonemonal as far as rookie QBs go.

(I can't find spell-check so bear with me)

[Auggie]

9. Mmm... opponents?

BENGALS:

Wins: Browns (twice), Bills, Jaguars, Colts, Seahawks, Titans, Rams, Cardinals.
Losses: Broncos, 49ers, Steelers (twice), Texans, Ravens (twice)

PANTHERS:

Wins: Jaguars, Redskins, Colts, Texans, Buccaneers (twice)
Losses: Cardinals, Packers, Bears, Saints (twice), Falcons (twice), Vikings, Titans, Lions

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Dalton: 3,398 yds passing @ 58.1% completion rate; 20 tds, 13 ints / 152 yds rushing / Sacked 25*
Newton: 4,051 yds passing @ 60% completion rate; 21 tds, 17 ints / 706 yds rushing / Sacked 35*
*team totals

About even, except where Newton loses in ints he wins in rushing yardage.

Schedules and stats from bengals.com / panthers.com

[JonLP24]

10. I think the major thing that seperates them

is the yards per attempt. Newton tossed the ball 517 times and gained 4,051 yards. Dalton threw the ball 516 times.

Opponents may have something to do with it but from what I've seen the Cincinnati D appeared significantly stronger. Interesting that Carolina defeated Houston in Houston and it looks like Cincinnati will fall to them twice.

[Scuba]

2. Newton threw for 400+ yards in his first two NFL games. Impressive. Haven't seen the rest. n/t

[trumad]

3. Cam Newton easily.

I don't even need to explain.

[OKNancy]

4. my vote too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. One would think it would be a no brainer.

[bigwillq]

11. Newton (nt)

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Newton

I would have given Miller more credit, but he missed some games. Newton didn't.
Got to give it to a guy who played all the games and did so well in the first year on a really bad team.
He at least made them interesting.