"Nothing against the perpetual sunshine, beautiful beaches and fruity drinks, but Cam Newton hopes he's not in Honolulu every year.

As he prepares to take his place among the NFL's elite in the Pro Bowl tonight, the Carolina Panthers record-setting rookie quarterback has his sights on another postseason game next year - the one affixed with Roman numerals.

"I wouldn't even want to be in this game, to keep it real frank and brash," Newton said. "Hopefully, I'll be playing for the right to be playing in the game next week."

Players on Super Bowl teams are not eligible for the Pro Bowl, the NFL's version of the all-star game. That is how Newton ended up joining quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees on the NFC roster. As the first alternate, Newton replaced Eli Manning when Manning's New York Giants beat San Francisco to advance to the Super Bowl.

"I'm real good," Newton said Friday in a telephone interview. "Beautiful weather in Hawaii. No complaints from me."

Newton, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, is one of three Panthers in tonight's game. Center Ryan Kalil and receiver Steve Smith were voted in as starters, and Smith paid for the team's other receivers, the receiver coaches and their families to join him in Honolulu."