When the NFC Championship game kicks off in Charlotte, much of the hype will be surrounding one man.

On the cusp of his first Super Bowl, after a stellar regular season that has made him the number one contender for the NFL’s annual MVP award, Cam Newton will have the spotlight.

It’ll be deserved too. Newton has been the undisputed star of the year, leading his team to a 15-1 record whilst maintaining his perfect smile and undoubted charisma. The Panthers’ signal-caller is a goldmine for anyone in the media industry to exploit, and what’s more, he clearly loves the attention.

That’s why, when I settled down to write this very article, I had every intention of discussing the enigma that is Cameron Jerrell Newton.

But then I had a moment. An epiphany, if you will.

On Sunday night, when the flashbulbs go off, there will be two teams going at it for a place in the Super Bowl. I’m no maths genius, but I reckon that means there will be two quarterbacks.

With all the coverage he receives, surely Cam won’t mind one article that focuses on the guy who will be across from him the next time he steps on the field? Come on, just this one time.

Okay. Here goes nothing.

I came across an article earlier that was written by the brilliant Kent Somers, Arizona’s most recognised beat writer. I won’t lie, it shocked me. You can read the whole thing here.

It shocked me because it raised a point that is actually really tough to argue:

Carson Palmer is already one of the best Cardinals quarterbacks of all time.

It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?

The Cardinals are football’s oldest existing franchise, dating right back to the 19th century, and Palmer has only been around in the desert for three years. Nevertheless, he’s already right up there.

This isn’t just some opinion based on any kind of bias either. There are figures to back it up.

The Cardinals went 13-3 this season, which is impressive. However, that level of impressiveness is cranked up a few notches when you realise that Arizona have NEVER gone 13-3 before in the modern era of the NFL.

All-in-all, it’s fair to say Palmer has had a pretty good year. Oh, and he broke all franchise records for touchdowns, passing yardage and QB rating. You know, standard stuff.

Now, don’t worry, I’m perfectly aware of what you’re thinking right now.

“Okay, Palmer has had a good year, we get it, but one of the franchise greats? Come on now, Ross, you’re getting carried away.”

But, am I?

I mean, let’s take a second to have a look at the competition.

Of the five quarterbacks in Cardinals’ history with the most NFL starts, only one left the franchise with a record above .500. Frankly, the list of passers makes for pretty grim reading. For a little context, the man who won more than he lost was Charley Johnson, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 60’s. Palmer, on the other hand, has lost just five of his past 31 starts.

Seeing as he led the Cards into the 1998 postseason after a barren half-century, Jake Plummer is firmly in the ‘greatest of all time’ picture. With all due respect to Jake, that fact alone says an awful lot.

At present, Kurt Warner has to be in the number one spot, despite only achieving a record of 27-30 after leaving the Greatest Show on Turf for Phoenix. Simply put, #13 took the team to their first and only Super Bowl to date. Regardless of Santonio Holmes’ heroics in Tampa, this remains the Cardinals’ finest achievement, and Warner deserves recognition for that.

So, with all this in mind, it’s time to consider something pretty amazing.

The man in the above picture, who is a legend at USC, but someone who has been constantly overlooked during his stop-start, 13-year NFL career, may be about to enter the upper echelons of football history.

If Kurt Warner is currently the greatest Cardinals’ quarterback of all time because he led his team to the Super Bowl, then logic dictates that Carson Palmer is just one game away from joining – or perhaps surpassing – him.

All that stands in the way are the Carolina Panthers, and a guy who goes by the name of Cam Newton.