Cam Newton Used The Most Carolinian Metaphor To Describe His Season

"It wasn’t going to be instant grits," he said. "It was going to be a process, like long-cooked collard greens."
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Thanks to a 49-15 trouncing of the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night, the Carolina Panthers will be center stage on Feb. 7, playing under the bright lights of Super Bowl 50. And while they’ve made it this far, it hasn’t been easy, as the Panthers' prowess on the field has been overshadowed at times by naysayers’ doubts in the press and the public -- a fact that quarterback Cam Newton perhaps knows better than anybody

So after a campaign in which every week brought a new criticism, every game a new challenge, Newton stood at the podium after clinching the NFC Championship on Sunday and used the most perfect, most Carolinian metaphor to describe the long haul that was the club’s 2015 season.

I’m excited, I’m excited. I said it then and I'm going to say it now: It was a process. It wasn’t going to be -- what’d I say? -- it wasn’t going to be instant grits, quick grits. It was going to be a process, like long-cooked collard greens. I think those collard greens are brewing right now -- you can smell them from a mile away.

We smell them all right, Cam. And after the MVP candidate’s explosive performance last night, even the Panthers’ naysayers must be getting a whiff of those sweet Carolinian collard greens.

 

Also on HuffPost:

Amazing Photos From The 2015 NFL Season
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Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy is flipped and brought down by Denver Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware during the first quarter on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver. (Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/TNS via Getty Images) (credit:Colorado Springs Gazette via Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns throws a second quarter pass behind the defense of Brian Orakpo #98 of the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 20, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) (credit:Gregory Shamus via Getty Images)
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CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Johnny Manziel #2 of the Cleveland Browns scrambles from cornerback Coty Sensabaugh #24 of the Tennessee Titans during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 20, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) (credit:Jason Miller via Getty Images)
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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 10: Fans stand with a sign stating 'Hey Mr. Trump Tom Brady for V.P.' before the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) (credit:Jim Rogash via Getty Images)
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HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 13: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans is introduced before playing against the Kansas City Chiefs in a NFL game on September 13, 2015 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) (credit:Thomas B. Shea via Getty Images)
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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 20: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers dives for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) (credit:Streeter Lecka via Getty Images)
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - SEPTEMBER 18: A Boston College Eagles fan holds a sign protesting NFL Comissioner Roger Goodell during the game between the Boston College Eagles and the Florida State Seminoles at Alumni Stadium on September 18, 2015 in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) (credit:Maddie Meyer via Getty Images)
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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 20: Garrett Graham #88 of the Houston Texans makes a touchdown catch over A.J. Klein #56 of the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) (credit:Streeter Lecka via Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 13: Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes the field prior to his first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans at Raymond James Stadium on September 13, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. The Titans defeated the Bucs 42-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) (credit:Joe Robbins via Getty Images)
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ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: Buffalo Bills fans in the stands with "Deflategate" signs as the Patriots came onto the field. The New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, Sept. 20, 2015. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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