By Mario Martinez—

Though drafted into the National Football League in subsequent years, Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton and Washington Redskins’ Robert Griffin III are irresistible to compare because both are dual threat quarterbacks with exponential potential.

With much fanfare, both achieved immediate success in a league that was thought to be too difficult for rookie quarterbacks. Now with numerous records already broken by both athletes, conclusions about who will have the better NFL career remains unanswered but widely questioned.

Selected with the first pick of the 2011 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers, BCS National Champion and Heisman Award winner Newton quickly became a spectacle that disproved the notion that no rookie could enter the league and immediately be successful. In his NFL debut, “Superman” passed for 422 yards which broke the rookie record for passing yards in a game, which was set by Peyton Manning in 1998. In the following week against the Green Bay Packers, he broke his own record by passing for 432 yards.

Newton continued to impress the world with his rookie campaign by breaking the rookie passing record for most passing yards in a season (4,051 yards) and the all-time rushing touchdown record for quarterbacks with 14. At the end of the year, he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and was also the first rookie quarterback to be selected to the Pro Bowl. Despite the rapid acclaim for his play on the field, his personal successes were overshadowed by one mediocre statistic- a dismal 6-10 season record that had Carolina nowhere near contention for a playoff spot. This is where Robert Griffin III has already begun to outshine his counterpart.

In the 2012 NFL draft, the Washington Redskins selected Heisman winner Griffin III to be their quarterback of the future. Unlike Newton, he did not splash onto the forefront of NFL headlines with his debut performance but Griffin did do something Superman did not- win. Griffin won two of his first four games in the NFL and was named 2012’s Offensive Rookie of the Month in September.

Though the Redskins would only win one out of their following five games, during their bye week in week 10, Griffin was voted by the team to be co-offensive captain; a rare honor for a rookie playing any position. The following week, against the division rivals Philadelphia Eagles, Griffin became the first rookie to ever throw for 200 yards, four touchdowns and rush for over 75 yards. He would also be the only rookie to ever complete a whole with a game with a perfect passer rating (158.3). In the following week, he threw for another four touchdowns in a victory against division rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. He is the only Washington Redskins quarterback to ever accomplish such a feat. Though it is only week fourteen of the 2012 NFL season, RG III has already caught up to Newton’s rookie season six win total and is running passed another one of his records.

In week thirteen, RG3 broke Newton’s single season rookie rushing record by a quarterback (714 yards) against the defending champion New York Giants with his 4.41 speed (Newton is a 4.58). In a must-win game to keep Washington in playoff contention, Griffin threw for only one touchdown in a defensive struggle that ended in a Redskins victory, 17-16 at MetLife Stadium. Though his performance was lackluster compared to his previous two outings, he managed to not throw any interceptions against one of the divisions toughest defenses. In fact, he has only thrown four interceptions all season, which is tied with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for least in the league. Newton finished his rookie season with 17 interceptions.

Like kryptonite to Superman, interceptions were Newton’s most formidable opponent. In each of the Carolina Panthers’ loses during the 2011 season, Newton threw an interception. In each of their six victories, Newton threw none.

With four more weeks left in the NFL season, the Washington Redskins maintain an even record (6-6) and are one game back from the division leading New York Giants (7-5). With favorable matchups in the final three weeks and an intriguing intrastate state game versus Baltimore this weekend, Griffin has the opportunity to trump Newton’s record for most passing yards by a rookie if he puts forth four outstanding performances.

Regardless of dispute, both young athletes are remarkable. But who will be the more successful quarterback in the NFL?