The Panthers were complaining about the multiple helmet-to-helmet hits Newton absorbed during the 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos.
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When asked at his postgame news conference whether he’d undergone concussion testing, Newton said he’d answered questions following the game.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is bigger than most quarterbacks at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds.
Newton suffered at least four helmet-to-helmet hits, but the Broncos were flagged just once for roughing the passer.
Last season, after a visibly concussed Case Keenum remained in a game, the National Football League implemented more stringent rules related to concussions – namely that independent spotters now have the power to halt the game if they believe a player may have suffered a concussion.
First, Denver defenders repeatedly targeted Newton’s head, including some textbook helmet-to-helmet hits that were not penalized.
A headline on the front page of the Charlotte Observer reads: “No in-game concussion check for Cam Newton?”.
On the play in which Denver was charged with a helmet-to-helmet hit, an intentional grounding call against Newton offset the penalty during the Panthers’ failed final drive, which ended with a missed 50-yard field goal attempt by Graham Gano as time expired. The NFL released a statement on Friday morning explaining that medical personnel and an unaffiliated doctor reviewed the play during the stoppage on the field and saw no signs that Newton was concussed. He described his team’s philosophy in the second half to USA TODAY after being burned by Newton for 36 yards and a touchdown on six carries in the opening 30 minutes.
“I feel sh-y”, he said. “I really liked this officiating crew, so I know it wasn’t something they did intentionally”. Despite leading every statistical category: Total Yards, Rushing Yards, Passing Yards, Turnovers; the Panthers couldn’t overcome a late interception of their own leading to the go-ahead score.
“They talk about player safety all the time and they need to protect that player as well”, Davis said.
That play resulted in a penalty against Denver, but other violent shots did not – much to the dismay of Panthers tight end Greg Olsen.
“I know he’s the biggest guy on the field, but he’s still the quarterback”, Olsen told reporters. “He goes to shoot a little layup and gets hacked and hammered and they don’t call it”.
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“We didn’t lose the game off that”. Denver sent their Hall-of-Fame quarterback off into the blue and orange sunset while placing one into the saddle who has never thrown a pass in a regular season game.
