“I wasn’t really paying attention to all that (the hits on Newton)”, Miller said.
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The Providence (R.I.) Journal reported that the players did not travel with the team to Phoenix.
Now, there’s a difference being physical and being reckless.
“I feel s–y”, Newton said after the game. Newton said he was not reviewed for a concussion until after the game. “It wasn’t something that I know they did intentionally. I will not let up on them”. As Newton released the ball and was going down, Stewart hit him in the head with the crown of his helmet.
While typically sized quarterbacks more likely would have drawn flags on some of the hits delivered by Denver, many of those quarterbacks likely wouldn’t have been able to physically remain in the game under such a barrage.
Newton was later than usual to the podium because he was receiving treatment, according to the Panthers.
This is all thanks to the curiously inept job the refereeing crew did in Thursday’s National Football League opener between the Panthers and Broncos, where helmet-to-helmet hits appeared to be encouraged – circa Jack Tatum in the 1970s – rather than banned. “I thought it should have been called the other way, but hey, we’ll see what they say”. During stoppage in play while on-field officials were in the process of administrating [sic] penalties, the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and team physician requested video from the spotters and reviewed the play. “They concluded there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player from the game”.
Newton took at least four shots to the head against the Broncos, which was notable for two reasons: The Broncos were never penalized any yards for the transgressions, and Newton was never asked to enter concussion protocol.
Newton, now 27 and a dad – his son, Chosen, was born Christmas Eve – shouldn’t face too many questions about his toughness the way he did after the Super Bowl when he didn’t dive into a pile to go after a loose ball. A penalty on fourth-and-21, however, kept the Carolina drive alive until Newton retreated to the sideline when Gano came in for the potential game-winner. He was also was less effective passing, completing just 7 of 16 passes for 83 yards with an interception after halftime. “The quarterback is such a great player and there’s so many designed runs for him and you’ve got to tackle him like a back”. “But we didn’t lose the game off that”. Atlanta (8-8 with a win over the Panthers in 2015) has made moves to improve Matt Ryan’s offensive line and run game options.
Later, Twitter went insane with vines and video of Newton flossing on the sideline.
The start of a new season rekindled some old – and troubling – issues for the NFL.
“We’ve got to treat Cam like a quarterback”, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said.
“It’s tough, man. The guy is a big defensive end playing quarterback”.
A person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that league officials say linebacker Brandon Marshall should have been flagged for a second-half hit on Newton.
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“The last time I talked to Cam was last night, and when I talked to him, he was feeling pretty good”. Instead, Newton was flagged for intentional grounding.
