Panthers to wear black jerseys for Super Bowl 50

“We are not going just to take pictures”, Cam Newton said Sunday after leading the Carolina Panthers into the big game with a 49-15 rout of the Arizona Cardinals for the National Conference championship. Having to tackle him out in the open field, having to defend the quarterback runs and those types of things will be something different for us. Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was next on the list, with Denver quarterback Peyton Manning fifth.

“The biggest driver of ticket prices this year is less about which teams are playing, but where the game is”, said Chris Leyden of SeatGeek.com, an online ticket hub. Norman will probably get a deal similar to what Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson and Darrelle Revis got on their latest signings, even if it’s hard for the Panthers to put a number out there right now. “We’re going to be excited”. He threw for two touchdowns in that game and ran for two more.

On the latest episode of Bill Rhoden On Sports, Bill and I wrap up the NFC and AFC Championship games, talk about Cam Newton’s triumphant season and discuss the changing of the guard at quarterback, as it relates to Manning and Newton, but also the position in general.

“We’ve been doubted. We’ve been slated; all of the above, but yet when you have turnouts like (Sunday) it makes it all worthwhile”, Newton said after the win against the Cardinals.

“One of the things that coach Ditka emphasized to us was that we had to enjoy the moment”, Rivera said. “Our pen has a lot more ink left”.

Rivera, a former Chicago Bears linebacker, played in Super Bowl XX under Bears head coach Mike Ditka. Alternate jerseys aren’t allowed in the Super Bowl, so that cancels out Carolina’s blue tops.

Newton, the No. 1 pick in 2011 out of Auburn, and Miller, the No. 2 pick in the same draft out of Texas A&M, have led their teams to Super Bowl 50.

Newton finished with 335 yards passing and 47 rushing as Carolina won their 13th straight home game, including three in the play-offs.

Newton accounted for 45 of the Panthers touchdowns during the regular season, 35 of those through the air and the remaining 10 on the ground, and rcked up an impressive 3,837 yards in the air and 636 yards running the football. Fans were chanting “MVP” at their victory closing ceremonies.

But MVP which stands for Most Valuable Player is rarely about stats.