Cam Newton has been comparing the Panthers to collard greens for 5 years now

Cam Newton delivered on a five-year promise to Panthers fans: That he would build something great. Following the Panthers’ NFC Championship win, Newton talked again about the comment he made when he arrived in Charlotte back in 2011. The analogy of quick grits to collard greens wasn’t some hokey comparison by a Southern quarterback to win over his detractors, but rather a serious belief he had. The Panthers would take time.

“I understand it’s not something that’s going to be instant, like instant grits,” Newton said of adjusting to the NFL. “It’s more like collard greens. You’ve got to let it sit and wait. But at the same time it’s going to be a fun process. I know that.”

Newton won the starting job from Jimmy Clausen and fought through comments that he wasn’t a leader. He endured snide remarks about the towel over his head, his postgame attire and floundering on a team that never seemed able to surround him with talent.

The Panthers didn’t necessarily do any of those things in 2015. Instead they gave him just enough. An offensive line that could protect him ... just enough. Receivers who could catch the ball ... just enough. A defense that could stop people ... just enough.

In the coming weeks, everything about Newton will be examined with a fine tooth comb. From his propensity to get over-confident with his arm, to his game-changing ability to run the ball on third-and-short like no other quarterback in the NFL.

Carolina’s rise might be seen as meteoric to those who haven’t been paying attention to what the Panthers have been building, but Cam has been watching. He’s seen the pot of collards stewing for a while now, and finally he’s ready to eat.