Better Rookie Season: Cam Newton vs Ben Roethlisberger?

 This post is actually a suggestion from a very good friend of mine and was such a great idea that I felt the need to get out there as soon as possible. He asked a simple question. Which rookie season do you think was better; Ben Roethlisberger or Cam Newton?

Now seeing that we are both Steelers fans it may seem like a bit of a loaded question, but I think that even more so than that it is an even more basic debate than that. In the age of fantasy football, do fans value jaw-dropping numbers or wins?

The two came into the league under different circumstances and that can't be overlooked. Newton was taken with the first overall pick by a Panthers team that floundered under Jimmy Clausen, but was not devoid of talent at other skill positions.

 Roethlisberger was taken with the 11th pick and was not even expected to play his rookie year on a solid Steelers squad, but was thrust into action when Tommy Maddox was injured in the season's second game.

The Tale of the Tape

These two heavyweights flexed their muscles in their rookie seasons and so I feel the need to list off their respective accomplishments before I declare a winner. I mean how can I guy win a fight when there are no proverbial punches thrown.

I will give the benefit of the first blow to Roethlisberger. Ben came started his career against the Baltimore Ravens after an injury chased Maddox from the game. The Steelers ended up losing, but Roethlisberger breathed life into the offense late.

After that first game Roethlisberger was nearly unstoppable as he reeled off a rookie record 13 straight-wins, including five fourth quarter come from behind wins, and that is just the regular season. Also in that streak of 13 wins was a victory over the New England Patriots who were in the midst of a then NFL record 21-game winning streak.

So, at the end of the regular season Roethlisberger had posted some solid numbers. He had completed 196 of his 295 pass attempts, a 66.4 percent clip. He finished with 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and added 144 yards on the ground and one rushing TD. 

The Steelers finished with a 15-1 record and were the AFC's top seed entering the playoffs. They hosted the Jets in the divisional round and Roethlisberger scored his first playoff victory driving the Steelers to a game-winning field goal in overtime. The season came to an end in the AFC title game with a loss the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Newton came into the NFL with a real bang setting the record for most yards in a debut with 422 as well as a pair of touchdowns through the air and one on the ground. The Panthers still lost to the Arizona Cardinals 28-21. 

Just to show that the Cardinal game was no fluke he threw for a rookie-record 432 yards against defending SB champs Green Bay. The problem was Newton threw three picks to one touchdown.

Newton worked his way into the NFL record books with his 14 rushing touchdowns which is the most by a quarterback. He also set the rookie record for passing yards, and total touchdowns.

Newton's final statistics breakdown like this 310 completions on 519 attempts which is 60 percent. He tallied 4,051 yards, 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also got the job done on the ground with 706 yards rushing and 14 scores. 

Now I took the liberty of doing some simple math and projecting Roethlisberger's numbers out of 16 games to make the comparison a little easier. They look something like this 224 completions for 2,995 yards 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The Verdict

I love playing fantasy football and Newton was a fantastic fantasy quarterback this year, but at the end of the day the NFL game is all about wins and in his rookie season that is all that Roethlisberger did.

I do acknowledge that Ben walked into a slightly better situation on defense, but as noted above Newton had a solid running game, two pass catching tight ends and Steve Smith.

Feel free to disagree and called me biased or out of line, but I just can't look at what Roethlisberger did and not say that it was the better rookie season.