Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has expressed his desire to become a "marquee" player over the next year.
Newton will be going into his fourth season in the NFL having guided the Panthers to their first winning campaign since 2008 last year, helping them finish top of the NFC South.
The 24-year-old has admitted that there would be more focus on young quarterbacks following the success of Super Bowl-winning second-year Russell Wilson at the Seattle Seahawks, but he is eager to reach the next level of performance.
"Russell Wilson put a lot of pressure on young quarterbacks. But needless to say, we don't have that fallback answer no more. We're no longer young quarterbacks," Wilson told the Dan Patrick Show.
"Going into my fourth year, I want to make that leap, make that stride to be a marquee quarterback in this league."
Newton has been voted to two Pro Bowls in his three seasons in the NFL having been chosen first overall in the 2011 Draft.
Barney Corkhill
