Dave Gettleman: 'Cam Newton is a franchise quarterback'

Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman believes Cam Newton has proven that he is a franchise quarterback in the NFL.

Newton bounced back from a poor sophomore season to lead his side to a 12-win campaign and their first playoff appearance since 2008, before they were defeated in the NFC divisional round by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

"Yes," Gettleman said when asked if Newton was a franchise quarterback. "No seven-second pause there. Yes he is."

"We're cap challenged. That's not going away any time soon. With that being said, do I feel Cam is a franchise quarterback? He proved it this year. He flat proved it."

Newton threw for 24 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in the 2013 campaign, with a quarterback rating of 88.8.