Cam Newton stood up in the Jake Fisher Jerseylocker room at halftime on Sunday and asked for a show of hands.

"How many have won a championship?" he asked.

He paused http://www.n... a moment, then asked …

"How many have wanted to do something special?"

He paused again before stating …

"Well, we have 30 minutes to do it."

A short time later, Newton delivered the signature play of his career, a designed run in which he rolled to his [url=http://www.nflbengalsofficial.com/Authentic-Kevin-Huber-Jersey]http://www.n... then slammed the throttle down and vaulted head-over-heels into the end zone.

"When Cam scored that touchdown," tight end Ed Dickson said, "we finished it."

With a 49-15 thrashing of the Arizona [url=http://www.packershopnfl.com/WOMENS_YOUTH_DAMARIOUS_RANDALL_JERSEY.html]Dam... RandallJerseyCardinals, Newton has finished a journey very few ever will: from Heisman trophy winner to No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft to the Super Bowl. One major story of the next two weeks leading up to the Panthers' shot at a Lombardi Trophy against the Denver Broncos will be how much people hate him. That's been the case throughout his career, from those who saw him as an inevitable bust to those who resent his "antics" and his celebrations. He mentioned the detractors Sunday night, those who "take subliminal shots at me," he said.

But lost in that discussion will be how many people he has drawn to his side. Those who wish Newton to fail will find like-minded skeptics. Yet this story of his success is how a young, rich and wildly talented superstar has wooed so many followers.

On Sunday he emerged before the game with Future and Jeezy, one giant arm around each celebrity. Michael Jordan [url=http://www.packershopnfl.com/WOMENS_YOUTH_DATONE_JONES_JERSEY.html]http://w... up in the press box 20 minutes before the game, almost unnoticed as he went to his luxury suite to watch his friend. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was here last week, becoming a mentee to Newton. Braylon Beam has been here every week, the 6-year-old "honorary coach" who is battling cancer.

"[Cam] means the world," his mom, Meredith, told Yahoo Sports, "because he is nice to other people and he rocks bedazzled shoes."

Braylon is in the entourage now, along with Deshaun and MJ and Future, and the little girl who got the football after the touchdown in the first quarter, and Hulk Hogan, who fawned over Newton in a mid-game tweet, and the Panthers' media relations rep who's been with the team through the lean years and got a shout-out in Newton's media session. The outside anger has been thrown into high relief, but here in this town everyone has been welcomed in.