Panthers quarterback Cam Newton played better than anyone else all year during the NFL season. He has an MVP award to show for it. He’s won a Rookie of the Year Award in 2011. He’s a Heisman Trophy winner during his Auburn Days, and he’s a first round pick. He’s a three time pro bowler, and he took his team to a record of 15-1, winning the NFC South and going all the way to the Super Bowl

And he was a couple mistakes away from winning it all.

Cam Newton deserves your respect.

And for some reason, most people don’t respect the 26-year old QB. Why? Is it because he has fun dancing while he rips apart almost every defense that comes his way? Is it because he’s an black quarterback in this league that outplayed the best white quarterbacks? He’s beaten Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Eli Manning, and Carson Palmer.

Or is it because he’s thrown 35 touchdowns to receivers you haven’t even heard of until this season like Philly Brown? He’s lost his top wideout Kelvin Benjamin back in August to an ACL tear. And still they’ve mopped the floor with just about every team.

Oh I get it. It’s because a team that’s cocky who can back it up finds themselves the most hated. We’ve seen it before. The 1989 Detroit Pistons, the 1987 Miami Hurricanes football team, and the 2014 Seattle Seahawks led by “Thug” Richard Sherman. Last time I checked, a Stanford graduate isn’t a thug. Oh, but Justin Bieber, he’s just a “misguided” teenager. Give me a break.

And so because he didn’t chase after a fumble in the dying minutes in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, all of this is justified? You saw it in the days leading up to the game. Who do you think America wanted to win? America, led by wannabe wives of Peyton Manning Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, wanted the white “Sheriff” Peyton Manning, to come out on top.

Oh I understand. All the “dabbing” was pre-mature, only to have Newton lose in the Super Bowl. It wasn’t. Because aside from the Broncos spectacular defense and a prayer touchdown to Julio Jones, Carolina flat out dominated everyone.

And although Newton does have to face up to the loss, the way the media has criticized him throughout the year has been unfair. He hasn’t had any curse-filled rages towards anyone. He hasn’t been arrested for anything wrong. He’s just having fun.

All of this sounds familiar. A gorgeous wife, lots of money, endorsement deals, wins, records, trophies, and he’s hated by many. Tom Brady anyone? You’d knew I’d tie it back to him.

Like he said in his postgame presser, the Panthers will be back. You better believe it. They went 15-1 without Kelvin Benjamin and Charles Tillman, as well as injured Thomas Davis and Jared Allen.

Like the saying goes, “Haters gonna Hate”.