Cam Newton has been officially declared the the Top Player of 2016! During the 2012 season on the Top 100 players segment on Newton, a prediction was made on his future placement on the Top 100 players list from perhaps the current greatest Carolina Panthers player of all time, Steve Smith.

"He’s one year and look at what he’s done. To talk about how he’s a top 100. Seeing him everyday, I think he has the ability to change the game completely. How they judge quarterbacks. How they judge them by their "character." Even maybe how they judge them by the color of their skin. It isn’t about a running quarterback or a pocket passer. He has the ability to show what an athletic quarterback can be, should be, and what you look for. I give him top player in 3 years…Cam Newton" -Steve Smith (on Newton's placement at #40 on the 2012's Top 100 list)

Smitty was one year off; however, everything he mentioned about Newton has been validated. Perhaps it's a unique skillset, but I personally think that Newton, as an athletic pocket passer and a foundation element in the run game, has fundamentally shifted certain conventions in the NFL. Props to Smitty for calling this and congrats to Cam Newton!

You can watch the full video here.