Add this to the list of things I never thought I'd be saying at the midpoint of the Carolina Panthers' 2011 season: Rookie quarterback Cam Newton is in the hunt for a Pro Bowl spot.

The NFL's all-star game will be played in Hawaii on Jan.29, 2012, the week before the Super Bowl. But the league's official website, nfl.com, has already opened Pro Bowl voting to all fans. Fan voting counts for a third of the total, as do the players' and coaches' votes, which will be cast in a few weeks.

Even at 2-6, the Panthers will have some representation in Hawaii. Wide receiver Steve Smith is a lock. Offensive tackle Jordan Gross and center Ryan Kalil played in the game last season and have a chance. Defensive end Charles Johnson might get there but would need a big second half of the season.

But what about Newton, the rookie quarterback who has had a dazzling half-season but who, for all that, also has 11 turnovers and has won just two of eight NFL starts? Can he earn one of the three available NFC quarterback slots?

I'll give you my opinion at the end of this column. But first, let's look at the other candidates - one sure thing, five strong contenders and a couple of long shots who might move up with a good second half of the season.

The sure thing

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay: Not only should Rodgers be voted as the Pro Bowl starter, but he likely also will be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player. Rodgers is in his prime, leads the league's only undefeated team and has 20 touchdown passes and only three interceptions. Incredible.

But Rodgers might not end up taking one of the three Pro Bowl slots. Since the game is the week before the Super Bowl this year, all players whose teams make the Super Bowl won't play in the Pro Bowl.

The contenders

Drew Brees, New Orleans: He leads the league in passing yards and has 19 touchdown passes. By Brees' standards, his 10 interceptions are way too high - but those are some awfully high standards.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit: The director of Detroit's surprising 6-2 start, Stafford has 19 TDs and - here's the best part - only four interceptions.

Eli Manning, New York Giants: For the 5-2 Giants, Manning has been very good, with 13 TDs, five interceptions and a quarterback rating second only to Rodgers in the NFC.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia: Vick has 11 passing TDs and eight interceptions. He leads all quarterbacks in rushing yardage per game (60.3), but the Eagles are 3-4 and he hasn't been as electrifying as he was a year ago.

Cam Newton, Carolina: Likely a shoo-in for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Newton is responsible for 18 of Carolina's 21 touchdowns (11 passing, seven running).

His 2,393 passing yards are second only to Brees in the NFL. He's No. 1 in the NFL in pass plays of more than 20 yards (40). But he also has nine interceptions and two lost fumbles - the Panthers are 2-0 when he doesn't turn the ball over the entire game and 0-6 when he does.

The long shots

Alex Smith, San Francisco: His numbers are modest. But Smith has thrown only two interceptions and the surprising 49ers are 6-1.

Tony Romo, Dallas: This is an off year by Romo's standards, as he has ricocheted between big plays and big mistakes for the 3-4 Cowboys.

So who are you going to vote for?

If I vote for real, it'll be later. But if I had to vote today, Newton would be my fourth choice, behind Rodgers, Brees and Stafford. I'd put him just ahead of Manning and Vick.

What Newton has done in eight games is remarkable. But I believe Newton would agree that since winning is the No. 1 thing in the NFL, he's not quite playing consistently at a Pro Bowl level. Yet.

Still, it's quite possible Newton will be playing in Hawaii by the end of the season, either because of an injury or a Super Bowl spot to one of the men voted in ahead of him. Or the rookie may simply get voted in on his own - his name recognition certainly won't hurt him.

It's amazing that we can have a debate about this already. But judging by the extreme comments on both sides of the issue when I posted a "Should Newton make the Pro Bowl?" question on my blog Wednesday morning, it is indeed one heck of a debate - and one more reason why this Panther season is so entrancing.