Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Cam Newton has proved he is a franchise quarterback, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

But Gettleman wouldn’t say whether the Panthers would attempt to negotiate a long-term deal with Newton, the first pick of the 2011 draft, or pick up a fifth-year option on his current contract.

“He proved it to me,” Gettleman said Tuesday in his first public comments to the media since training camp. “He proved it this year. He flat proved it.”

Prior to the season, Gettleman said it was time for Newton to win after 6-10 and 7-9 seasons. Asked if the former Heisman Trophy winner was his franchise quarterback after Carolina made its first trip to the playoffs since 2008, Gettleman didn’t hesitate to say yes.

“No seven-second pause was there?” Gettleman said. “Yes, he is.”

The Panthers have until May 3 to pick up the fifth-year option, which would be similar to a franchise tag. Newton would be entitled to the average salary of the league’s 10 highest-paid quarterbacks. He is in the third year of a four-year, $22 million deal.

“I don’t talk contracts,” Gettleman said. “I can’t work in a vacuum where you work year to year. We are cap challenged, and that’s not going away anytime soon. In the next month, we are going to thoughtfully look at next year and a three-year projection and five-year projection.

“I know we’re only as good as our most recent game. I get that. But the bottom line is you can’t work year to year. There is no way to create continuity. You have to identify the core and keep the core.”Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said Cam Newton has proved he is a franchise quarterback, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

But Gettleman wouldn’t say whether the Panthers would attempt to negotiate a long-term deal with Newton, the first pick of the 2011 draft, or pick up a fifth-year option on his current contract.

“He proved it to me,” Gettleman said Tuesday in his first public comments to the media since training camp. “He proved it this year. He flat proved it.”

Prior to the season, Gettleman said it was time for Newton to win after 6-10 and 7-9 seasons. Asked if the former Heisman Trophy winner was his franchise quarterback after Carolina made its first trip to the playoffs since 2008, Gettleman didn’t hesitate to say yes.

“No seven-second pause was there?” Gettleman said. “Yes, he is.”

The Panthers have until May 3 to pick up the fifth-year option, which would be similar to a franchise tag. Newton would be entitled to the average salary of the league’s 10 highest-paid quarterbacks. He is in the third year of a four-year, $22 million deal.

“I don’t talk contracts,” Gettleman said. “I can’t work in a vacuum where you work year to year. We are cap challenged, and that’s not going away anytime soon. In the next month, we are going to thoughtfully look at next year and a three-year projection and five-year projection.

“I know we’re only as good as our most recent game. I get that. But the bottom line is you can’t work year to year. There is no way to create continuity. You have to identify the core and keep the core.”