-Running back C.J.
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Newton, who was shaken after that hit from Darian Stewart, was not taken out of the game, prompting fans and media to question whether the league’s concussion protocol had been violated in the first NFL game of the season. First, Newton said in his postgame press conference that he was not checked for a concussion until after the game. Rivera hopes Thursday’s situation, because it happened on a nationally-televised stage to the league MVP, will spark the league to be more proactive on helmet-to-helmet hits. Denver coach Gary Kubiak takes pride in the fire and intensity they bring every play defensively.
“And remember, there’s people up in the box looking down and there’s the head referee”. None of them felt that he was under duress at that time, and they allowed him to continue.
However, the hit by Von Miller, where he made contact with Newton’s head as he was being sacked by DeMarcus Ware, was more of a judgement call, the league source said.
Cecil Newton said there’s no question in his mind that his son fails to get the protections that other quarterbacks get. “Again, it’s tough and the referees are doing the best they can”.
It’s only natural that the officials see Newton, as imposing a quarterback as there is at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, in a different light than his mostly smaller counterparts.
“I think there is a little bit of prejudice to that”, Rivera said of the lack of penalties. “It’s kind of like the National Basketball Association used to allow guys to get away with that against Shaquille O’Neal because of his size”, Davis told the paper. “Then he goes to shoot a layup and gets hacked and hammered and they don’t call it”. During that time – while officials sorted out offsetting penalties – medical personnel spoke with Newton and requested to see video of the hit, according to a league source.
Because potential headhunting occurred on such a big stage, Rivera hopes it could change how officials treat Newton. There is a sense that he should be able to handle more hitting.
“I don’t know”, Newton said. I saw two plays where he left the pocket where there were big collisions. If there is a questionable call and you have to go to replay just to make sure.
“The thing that we didn’t do and needed to do better, we should have shut the run down and forced the guy to win the game”. Anderson said Denver’s experience against Carolina played a role in the screen pass that he turned into a touchdown, helping to launch the Broncos’ comeback.
Carolina’s defense will need to be on track from the opening kickoff.
But the actions take in the game, many said, prove otherwise.
A Graham Gano field goal made it a one-point game and with nine seconds left, the veteran kicker, who was born in Scotland, had a 50-yard field goal for the win.
There was a scary moment towards the end of the game though.
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During the contest, Newton took a series of shots to the head courtesy of Broncos defenders without accumulating a single penalty yard. “The timeout didn’t affect me, it never does.”. He finished 18 for 33 with one touchdown running and another passing and moved the Panthers within field goal range twice in the fourth quarter. Jimmy Garoppolo will make his first career start in Brady’s place.
