Cam Newton: 'It was past due' for Greg Olsen to make Pro Bowl
Carolina's tight end has been one of the best in the league at his position for a few years now.
By
Jared Dubin
•
1 min read
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton recognizes what should be regarded as self-evident by now: his teammate Greg Olsen is one of the best tight ends in the league. Newton told reporters it was about time that Olsen made the Pro Bowl.
Newton on Olsen finally making Pro Bowl: "It was past due for him."
— Max Henson (@PanthersMax) December 24, 2014
Since being traded from Chicago to Carolina before the 2011 season, Olsen has gotten better every year. His catch totals have gone from 41 in his last season with the Bears, to 45 his first season in Carolina, to 69, 73 and now 82. This season, he's also set career-high marks in targets and receiving yards, and there's still one game to go. Olsen's 82 receptions this year are tied for most among tight ends with Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett, while his 981 receiving yards rank second behind only Gronk.
In the three years Newton has been his quarterback, Olsen ranks third among all tight ends in catches, second in receiving yards and fourth in touchdowns. Jimmy Graham is the only tight end that has more games with five-plus receptions in that timespan than Olsen's 27, while Graham and Gronkowski are the only ones with more 75-plus receiving yard games than Olsen, who has 11. Olsen is also one of just two tight ends to start all 47 of their team's regular season games in the past three seasons, along with Jason Witten of the Cowboys.
