Cam Newton has been one of the NFL's most recognizable superstars since coming into the league with the Carolina Panthers. Not only has he been a top-notch talent on the field, he has also become one of the league's best personalities off of the gridiron. Fans either love him or hate him.

While very few will say that they dislike the kind of energy and passion that Newton plays with, there are a few that doubt his ability on the field at times. He has had some consistency issues, but that doesn't seem to phase former NFL star wide receiver turned analyst Cris Carter.

Carter went so far as to call Newton the best athlete to ever play the quarterback position in the history of the league on First Things First today. Take a look at the segment for yourself:

There is no denying the athletic ability that Newton brings to the field, but some will disagree with this statement. Many feel that Michael Vick deserves more praise than he has gotten. That being said, Newton's sheer size and strength make him a very tough out in this category.

Newton is coming off of a tough season that saw him struggle with a shoulder injury. He went through the offseason healing up and has changed his throwing motion a bit. The Panthers do have some concern about him, but he appears ready to take the field again to start the year.

Carolina is hoping to get back into contention in a very tough NFC. They have a solid defense and a talented offense around their franchise quarterback.

It will be interesting to see what the upcoming season holds for Newton and the Panthers, but at this point in time, Carter is not hiding his praise for the quarterback.