The Facts: Newton, the No. 1 overall selection from last year's draft, said Saturday he feels his improvement going into his second season as an NFL quarterback "is through the roof."

Diehards Line:And what leads Newton to believe such a thing? "I've had the whole offseason to work on the things that I feel like I need to get better at (and that) will come into fruition," he explained. "With the upcoming OTAs, I feel like that's another time for me to get better." He also says it will help to have Steve Smith around. The veteran WR recently signed a three-year contract extension. "Having him back is a big thing for not only me, as my whole evolution is going to change -- to have his leadership there -- but for the whole team," Newton said. ... In his first season in the league, Newton threw for 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns, completing 60 percent of his passes. While we won't argue with Newton's ability to improve, that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to put up bigger totals. In fact, matching last season's production will be a serious challenge.