Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: Panthers’ Cam Newton is MVP

The only thing standing between Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and this year’s NFL MVP award is the formality of presenting him it to him the night before the Super Bowl.

The award is voted on by 50 media members, and he should be the runaway winner. If Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was the 51st vote, Newton would have another in his column.

On a teleconference with Charlotte reporters, Wilson said Newton would have his vote for the highest individual honor in the league.

“Yeah, I would,” Wilson said. “It’s been a tough matchup with Carson Palmer, and I think Tom Brady has done a great job as well. But in terms of winning football games, they’ve been able to win. And they beat us. It’s one of those things where you have to give them respect for the hard work he put into it. I think he’s played spectacular football.”

Despite leading his team to the Super Bowl the past two seasons, Wilson has never received an MVP vote. He was shut out in 2013 and 2014, and he could be again this year with Palmer and Brady also in the mix.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: Panthers’ Cam Newton is MVP."