The Carolina Panthers quarterback was victimized by helmet-to-helmet hits at least three times in a 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos on Thursday night.
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ESPN reports: “Marshall’s hit was a violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6 (i) of the National Football League rulebook, which prohibits a defender from using his helmet to butt, spear or ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily”.
And it works. Newton won’t be the last QB distracted by a desire to survive a game against the Broncos in one piece. None were held out.
There were a couple of helmet-to-helmet hits on Newton by last year’s Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and Brandon Marshall that went un-flagged by Gene Stetatore’s crew, prompting Newton to declare, “I don’t like getting hit in the head”, but he added he didn’t think the Broncos were head-hunting. “We saw him limping throughout the game, so that running stuff, you can’t do that all game”. Carolina coach Ron Rivera said Friday Denver should have been penalized more for hits on his quarterback, and advocated for those plays to be reviewed in the future. There is a sense that he should be able to handle more hitting. A quarterback is considered defenseless in the pocket and cannot be hit in the helmet or neck area by an opponents helmet or face at ANY time (Rule 12, Section 2, Ar.7 of the NFL rule book), and as ESPN pointed out and as seen late in the second quarter, Von Miller should have been penalized for that exact violation (Kevin Seifert, NFL Nation). The referees need to be sanctioned for not throwing the flag. Marshall went out in the second quarter for a concussion evaluation but was cleared to return.
During Carolina’s final drive, Newton took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Denver safety Darian Stewart.
“It’s not my job to question the officials”, Newton said. “We’ve just got to treat Cam like a quarterback”. “It was nothing intentional at all.In fact I got this blood on my finger”.
The Broncos trailed for much of the night, using a 14-point rally in the fourth quarter to take the lead, and then leaning on the defense-and a little luck-to hang on for the win.
They played a game that was far from their best in nearly every phase and despite the big win over last season’s NFC Champion, the Carolina Panthers, they are not happy about it. “The NFL also prohibits defenders from “launching” at a player in a defenseless position, as a quarterback in the pocket is considered to be”. “But no doubt, it’s different when you get out there”.
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With all that said, despite the disappointment, head coach Gary Kubiak found reason for optimism. It is notable that the full back Andy Janovich busted out a 28 yard rush and touchdown for his first career run and only run of the night, while also making some very important blocks for Anderson throughout the night. None of them felt that he was under duress at that time, and they allowed him to continue. But he wouldn’t take a pay cut, so GM John Elway released him in favor of rookie Riley Dixon. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the last one was in Week 11 of the 2014 season against Atlanta. His first touchdown was a 25-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass from Siemian. “There is a set of rules that these doctors, these trained professionals have to follow”, Rivera said.
