The Panthers finished the season with a devastating beating at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.

Considering the team finished 2-14 last year, a 6-10 record is a huge success!! 

Watch Coach Rivera's Press Conference here -

Everyone reading this knows that I was very hard on Cam Newton at the beginning of the season. He has made a believer out of me by never quitting and staying true to who he is as a quarterback. Who wants a guy that accepts losing, ever? I can respect that & jump on board!! Newton won the hearts of the city and he put up numbers that you could not ignore. Hats off to the Rookie!! 

The Panthers and the Dolphins are tied for 8th pick in the 2012 draft. Here are the top 10 picks 

• 1. Colts (2-14) 
• 2. Rams (2-14) 
• 3. Vikings (3-13) 
• 4. Browns (4-12) 
• 5. Buccaneers (4-12) 
• 6. Redskins (5--11) 
• 7. Jaguars (5-11) 
• T8 - Panthers (6-10)
• T8 - Dolphins (6-10) 
• 10. Bills (6-10)

Looking at this makes me proud of the turnaround in Charlotte. Defense is important so I hope the Panthers use that pick to help rebuild. There are 7 teams with records worse than the Panthers... That's progress, albeit slow - but Rome wasn't built in a day. 

I wonder if Minnesota will take Heisman winner Robert Griffin III if the Colts decide to grab Andrew Luck. Either way, they will have big shoes to fill as rookie QB's because Cam Newton destroyed rookie and NFL records this season: 

NFL records

▪   Most passing yards by a quarterback in debut game (422)

▪   Most passing yards by a quarterback in first two games (854),

▪   Most passing yards by a rookie in a game (432)

▪   Most passing yards by a rookie in a season (4,051)

▪   First quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in first career start.

▪   Sixth quarterback to throw for 400+ yards in back to back games

▪   First quarterback in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in first two career starts

▪   First rookie in NFL history to pass for more than 400 yards in back to back games

▪   Fastest player to throw for 1,000 yards

▪   First player in NFL history with at least five rushing touchdowns and five passing touchdowns in his first five games

▪   First rookie in NFL history to throw for 10 touchdowns and run for 10 touchdowns in a season.

▪   Fourth rookie quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in a season.

▪   Most rushing touchdowns in single season by a quarterback (13)

▪   Second player in NFL history with 20+ pass TDs and 10+ rush TDs in a season (Kordell Stewart)

▪   Third most pass TDs (21) in a rookie season.

▪   First player in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards and 10+ rush TDs in a season

▪   First player in NFL history with 4,000+ pass yards and 500+ rush yards in a season

Carolina Panthers franchise records

▪   Most passing yards in a single game (432)

▪   Most passing yards in first two games of season (854)

▪   Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a season (13)

Longest offensive scoring play (91) to Brandon LaFell on Christmas Eve vs. Tampa Bay

More on Cam:

(BIG THANK YOU TO RICK CRANK FOR THE PHOTOS)