There is an obvious solution to teams obeying the NFL’s concussion protocols – remove the teams’ medical staff from the evaluation process.
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“There is a protocol”, Rivera said.
“Under that procecure, representatives from the league and the players association will review the relevant documents and video and interview the involved parties to ensure that the Protocol was applied properly”.
The NFL and NFLPA will investigate the handling of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton under the concussion protocol following Thursday’s game, in which Newton took multiple helmet-to-helmet hits from Broncos defenders. It was the fourth time in the contest that Newton was clearly hit in the head, which is a cause for concern.
Newton was hit in the head several times during Thursday night’s game, including one hit that the National Football League has since admitted should have resulted in a penalty on Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall.
A Panthers official told The Charlotte Observer that Newton passed four concussion tests after the game: in the locker room, on the bus to the airport, during the flight and at the airport after the team landed.
Asked if he thought he’d be penalized for his big hit, either through a fine or a suspension, Stewart said, “I hope not”. The NFL and NFLPA will review the findings and recommend discipline.
The biggest hit on Newton was by safety Darian Stewart on Carolinas final possession, leaving the QB motionless on the ground for several seconds. (Hochuli denied it.) Newton wouldn’t say why he bit his tongue Thursday, but emphasized he knew people were going to be scrutinizing his interaction with the media after an infamous, abbreviated session with reporters following the Super Bowl. When a player initiates a hit with the top of the helmet, leaves his feet to deliver a blow or levels a defenseless player, he is ejected from the game and has to sit out the first half of the next game as well.
“My understanding is the doctor, the independents, they collaborated, talked about what needed to be done, as far as whether he was coming in or out, and they determined based on what they saw when they reviewed the tapes during the game that he was OK to continue”, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Friday.
The hit the league referenced in its release Friday occurred with 36 seconds left in the game was by Stewart.
Inside linebacker Brandon Marshall launched at Newton during a third down in the third quarter.
Newton did endure many hard, illegal hits on Thursday night, and his experience was similar to the one endured by Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.
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In addition to calling out the officials, Cam’s father took aim at the Broncos’ defensive players, and the intention behind their hits. They also observed Newton the entire time before determining there was no indication he was suffering signs of a concussion. However, so of those hits were to Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s head, and now his union is going to take a look. I’m definitely going to appeal.
