Tuesday is why Dave Gettleman has done what he’s done since coming to Carolina. It’s why the Panthers’ general manager hasn’t tried to win the Super Bowl in mid-March. It’s why instead of throwing money at a quick fix, he’s gone bargain shopping.Of course, committing a huge chunk of future funds on a five-year, $103.8 million contract extension for Cam Newton won’t be a popular move in some circles. It’s a top-three deal for a guy who often hasn’t played like a top-10 quarterback during his first four seasons. But when you draft and then start building around a franchise quarterback, you don’t cut bait before he’s reached his potential ceiling. Preparing for and then paying Newton was the only move Gettleman could make. And it was the smart one.“We’ve been planning for this. I told you guys when I first walked in the door – after my seven-second pregnant pause –that I felt he was a franchise quarterback. Nothing changed,” Gettleman said Tuesday night after Newton signed his extension.”We just kept working the numbers, and like I said, we’ve been very intentional and thoughtful about getting this deal done and how it would fit in our financial planning so that we can continue to build this team right.”Like most young quarterbacks, Newton has compiled a lengthy list of both pros and cons.He’s already made the Pro Bowl twice. He’s the only player in NFL history to start his career with four straight seasons of at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards. He led the Panthers to back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history.But he was just 5-8-1 when Carolina won a weak NFC South in 2014. He’s just 30-31-1 overall. He’s 1-2 in the postseason, including January’s Divisional loss in Seattle when he yet again mixed flashes of brilliance with backbreaking mistakes.”I know I am nowhere where I want to be right now, but that gives me even more drive to get to where I want to be, sooner rather than later,” the NFL’s newest $100 million man said.“I’m thankful that this opportunity came and it’s over and done with. Now that I can focus on playing football and getting the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl puts me somewhat in cruise control at the moment, but yet, me understanding that so much is going to be expected of me.”If Newton doesn’t win a Super Bowl by the time his extension runs out in 2020, that won’t necessarily mean it was a bad deal. Plenty of other things have to go right. He’ll need help from the coaching stuff and his current teammates, plus he’ll need Gettleman to continue building up what remains a suspect offensive line and unproven receiving corps. But Newton is the biggest key, and that’s why he’ll make the biggest bucks.Even while many fans and media have questioned his ability to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, the Panthers have never faltered. Not Gettleman. Not head coach Ron Rivera.On Tuesday, when asked when he knew Newton was his franchise quarterback, Rivera replied:“Day One. I’ve said it, guys. I’m not wavering on this. This is who I’ve bought into; this is who I believe in. As long as I’m here, he’s the guy that I believe is going to take me where I want to be.”For each of the last three springs, the Panthers have watched other teams spend money on big-name free agents. Keeping Newton and those coming behind him is the payoff. Soon, it will be linebacker Luke Kuechly’s turn. Then it could be defensive tackles Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, followed by receiver Kelvin Benjamin.It’s almost like Gettleman has had a plan.It may not work. Come 2020, Newton may be another cautionary tale of a quarterback who was given much more than he was worth. But paying the going rate on a uniquely skilled player at the most important position in football is something at least a dozen other NFL teams would love to be able to do.”Cam’s growing; we’re growing. We’re growing as a team,” Gettleman said. “We’ve got a really young group around here. We’ve got our six or seven older guys that obviously count on, but this is a younger team, and it’s growing with him.”He continues to ascend, and I still think there’s plenty of room left.”