On Sunday, a young MVP stood before a sea of reporters, attempting to gather himself as he took questions about his team's disappointing championship performance against a team of loaded veteran talent. He struggled for answers to questions about his performance, his maturity, and quite frankly faced an avalanche of criticism that had inevitably built up in the week prior.

This is Cam Newton.

This is also 2007 LeBron James.

The young Carolina Panthers quarterback is potentially the greatest all-around physical talent that the NFL has ever seen. No quarterback has ever had the natural running and throwing ability that Newton possesses, and those who have come close haven't been blanketed by a 6'6 body to take the physical pounding that the position demands. He entered the league as a top draft pick and a Heisman trophy winner, and has maintained a relatively clean record off the field.

His offensive supporting cast was lackluster at best, and the shockingly efficient Panthers offense was powered almost entirely by Newton.

Jonathan Stewart? An injury-prone running back who could never put together a full season with the lion's share of the carries, as DeAngelo Williams typically took the bigger burden in the running game.

Greg Olsen? A solid tight end, known for being a good pass catcher, but was generally regarded as a draft disappointment before a recent career resurgence in Carolina.

Ted Ginn, Jr? Ask any Miami Dolphins fan of their opinion on Ginn, and the response will be laced with countless expletives and curses. The absurdly speedy wideout has been a constant enigma in the NFL, and even during his 2015 breakout season he struggled mightily with drops.

Newton had a great defense to back him up, but his league-best offense was almost entirely carried on his massive shoulders.

James entered the league as a highly touted prospect out of high school, a top draft pick, and was dropped into the sputtering mess that was the Cleveland Cavaliers. The NBA had never seen a player with the passing ability of a point guard, the scoring ability of a swingman, and the physical size to throw down ferocious dunks and guard any position. He was a role model off the court, and quickly became the face of the league. At 6'8, LeBron was just as much of a physical freak as Newton, and after a few years in the league, he lead the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals despite a highly unimpressive supporting cast:

Mo Williams? Granted an honorary All Star appearance after a solid year of playing next to LeBron.

Larry Hughes? A serviceable scorer, but had never been an impact player or a winning playoff contender.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas? A fun name to say and even more fun to root for, but 'Big Z' never truly struck fear into the hearts of his opponents.

Sure, James had a few talented veterans playing by his side, but his team was almost entirely carried on his massive shoulders.

The final straw came during Super Bowl week, when Cam received the typical saturated coverage that comes with the biggest game of the year. However, Cam's performance as a player wasn't questioned; rather, it was his maturity, and his mental ability to perform.

James faced similar adversity when he joined the Miami Heat and subsequently became the biggest media target in the entire country.

Newton was scrutinized by many for 'dabbing,' a popular dance with which the quarterback would celebrate touchdowns. He was called cocky, arrogant, and immature. The media found endless stories to write about Newton, as he quickly became the most polarizing figure in the league.

Newton won the MVP award this year, and to be completely honest, would anyone be surprised if he racked up a few more in the next few years? He will only get better, and as players like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers age, Newton will rise to the top of the quarterback hierarchy.

James had a similar run, where many wondered if he would win the MVP award every year that he played in the league during his prime.

There's no avoiding it: whether we like it or not, Cam Newton is the new LeBron James. He is the new face of the NFL, which the league desperately needs after watching stars such as Marshawn Lynch, Calvin Johnson, and potentially Peyton Manning retire in the last month.

I'm glad Cam Newton lost the Super Bowl. A win might not have given him the motivation to continue to get better, but a loss will propel him to strive even harder for greatness while training in the offseason.

Wait, he gets Kelvin Benjamin back, too?

The finished product will be a beautiful thing to watch next year.