SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton didn’t leave training camp on Thursday without a fun exchange with Miami defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

No, Newton didn’t refer to Suh as “Donkey Kong Suh’’ as he did five times during an interview last season before the Panthers played the Detroit Lions.

But as the former Lions first-round pick got close to the franchise quarterback with a big push in the pocket, Newton looked at the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Suh and said, “Yeah, life is good for you.’’

Life is good for both players. Suh signed a six-year, $114 million deal with Miami during the offseason. Newton signed a five-year, $103.8 million extension with the Panthers in June.

Both are having good training camps.

“Life is good for me?’’ Suh told Miami reporters with a laugh after practice. “I don’t know about that. I’m definitely happy about my life, but there’s more to accomplish.’’

Suh was impressive during the two-day joint practice against the Panthers in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Panthers certainly will have to account for him in Saturday night’s preseason game at Bank of America Stadium.

“I mean, he’s special,’’ coach Ron Rivera said. “When he first came out [in 2010] we didn’t study him because we knew he was going to be drafted first or second. I really got a chance to watch him [Wednesday’s] one-on-ones. There was one where he was unbelievable. I don’t care who the guard was, he was winning.’’

Newton took some heat for his “Donkey Kong Suh’’ comment last year. He apologized for it after Carolina’s 24-7 victory over the Lions in Week 2.

Suh was surprised by the chatter on Thursday, although Newton typically gets chirpy with his own defense in practice.

“Did I expect the chatter?’’ Suh said. “No, he just came up to me, so it was a good conversation and left it at that.”