Dec. 24, 2011: Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton smiles as he sits on the bench during the third quarter of the Panthers' 48-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C. (AP)
CHARLOTTE – Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton set a new NFL rookie passing record Saturday, surpassing all-pro veteran Peyton Manning's mark set in 1998.
Newton, 22, threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns during a 48-16 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving the likely NFL rookie of the year 3,893 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes on the year.
Manning threw for 3,379 yards during his rookie season in 1998.
Newton also ran for 65 yards and another touchdown, giving him 14 rushing touchdowns for the year.
The six-foot-five, 248-pound quarterback has set several other quarterback rookie records this year, including being the first rookie with 10 touchdown passes and 10 touchdown runs in a season and being the first rookie with consecutive 400-yard passing games.
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