BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - One play.

That's how much of Cam Newton's NFL regular-season debut Gus Malzahn watched live on television.

Don't get the wrong idea.

Don't mistake Malzahn's lack of attention for a lack of interest in the greatest quarterback he's ever coached and probably ever will.

Auburn's offensive coordinator was getting ready for practice Sunday when he caught Newton at work for the Carolina Panthers against the Arizona Cardinals, at least for a moment.

"He scrambled," Malzahn said Monday. "That's it."

Funny. A lot of people figured Newton scrambling would be the story of his pro career.

Scrambling out of the pocket at the slightest provocation. Scrambling to fit the ego of an entertainer and icon into a helmet. Scrambling to make as much money as possible before he played himself right out of the league.

Malzahn was never one of these people. Just the opposite.

The more viciously know-it-all know-nothings like Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki attacked Newton, spitting in his eye without ever staring him in the face, the more passionately Malzahn defended him.

If he were so inclined, today would be a good day for Malzahn to say he told them so.

In January, Newton played his last college game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and led Auburn to the BCS title. On Sunday, in the same stadium, in his first pro game, Newton played better for the Panthers than he had on his previous visit with the Tigers.

Despite his legion of critics, he's that kind of cat.

Newton threw for more yards than he had in any of his 14 games for Auburn. His biggest game for the Tigers with his arm came in the SEC Championship rout of South Carolina, when he threw for 335 yards.

He threw for more yards Sunday than any quarterback ever has in an NFL debut. More than Dan Marino or John Elway. More than Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. More than Joe Namath.

Kevin Scarbinsky is a columnist for The Birmingham News. His column is published on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Broadway Joe tweeted this tribute Sunday: "More important than the stats was the WAY Cam Newton played. With the exception of his TD celebration (can't blame him), he was terrific." High praise for the former Auburn quarterback from the former Alabama quarterback.

Newton did earn a penalty for that excessive celebration, and he did throw one interception into double coverage, and his last completion came up 1 yard short of a first down and 2 yards short of a touchdown that would've tied the game. So he wasn't perfect in a 28-21 defeat.

All he did was complete 24 of 37 passes for 422 yards and two touchdowns and run in for another score. That would be a career game for a lot of NFL quarterbacks. For Newton, it was just the beginning.

As big a believer in Newton as Malzahn is, even he wasn't expecting that kind of veteran performance. He got a text from Panthers GM Marty Hurney after the game that said Newton "did a great job."

"Anytime you do something nobody's ever done, that's a huge feat for your first game," Malzahn said. "It probably is a little surprising."

More than a little when you consider that, because of the lockout, Newton didn't have any off-season with the team and didn't have a full preseason. Imagine how good he might be when he gets to know his teammates and the league.

"I think the sky's the limit for the kid," Malzahn said.

One game doesn't make anyone a Hall of Famer, but Newton exploded a few myths Sunday.

He faced a blizzard of blitzes and withstood two roughing-the-passer penalties to throw for more yards in a single game than Bart Starr or Terry Bradshaw ever did. So much for not being able to read defenses or stay in the pocket. And so much for his alleged me-first attitude. By all accounts, Newton appeared more bummed that Carolina lost than buzzed that he'd lit up the stat sheet.

"That doesn't surprise me at all," Malzahn said. "He expects to do great things, but at the same time, he hates to lose at anything."

Oh, and Malzahn has a message for anyone that believed Newton was a mercenary done with Auburn after his Pro Day there. Guess who called Malzahn after Barrett Trotter made an impressive debut of his own in Auburn's opening win over Utah State?

Newton.

"I texted him," Malzahn said. "He called me."

Seems that Newton and another former Tiger with the Panthers, Lee Ziemba, had watched their old school's electric comeback.

"They were excited for us," Malzahn said. "Cam was very excited for Barrett. I think they talked that day, too."

No one was more excited for the two of them than Malzahn. He told you Newton would be a big-time pro. Newton just showed you.

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