Cam Newton has yet to play in an NFL regular-season game, but one of yesteryear's stars, Bo Jackson, already is comparing the Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn to some of the league's storied passers.
Jackson told "The Jim Rome Show" on Friday that the Carolina Panthers "are scary" with Newton, the No. 1 overall draft pick, under center.
"When you speak of Cam Newton, I'll put it to you just like this: He has the arm strength and power of Dan Marino and John Elway combined," Jackson said. "He is quicker than Michael Vick, faster than Michael Vick. And he will run over you with the power of a Jerome Bettis, Bo Jackson, Earl Campbell. That's the kind of guy he is."
Jackson, who won the 1985 Heisman Trophy while at Auburn, was just getting started.
"There isn't another quarterback in the NFL that has all of those tangibles," Jackson said. "And when you put all of those tangibles together with the quality of receivers and linemen that he's got blocking for him, and the running backs that he can get that pill to, this guy is scary. The Panthers are scary."
Newton was announced as the team's starter Thursday night after throwing his first NFL touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey during the Panthers' 33-17 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jackson, a former baseball and football star, played with the Los Angeles Raiders from 1987 to 1990, rushing for 2,782 yards and 16 touchdowns in a career shortened by injury.
