Now, there’s a difference being physical and being reckless.
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The fourth time a Denver Broncos defender slammed his helmet into Cam Newton’s head, the Carolina Panthers quarterback wound up sprawled face down on the turf here.
Newton said he didn’t feel he was being targeted and dodged a question about whether he received fair and adequate protection from Steratore’s crew.
Newton is expected to practice when the Panthers return to the field on Wednesday, the coach said. “It was nothing intentional at all.In fact I got this blood on my finger. And they are going to have to do a better job and start treating him like the quarterback he is”. Newton got to his feet and stayed in the game.
But the coach says change could be coming because the Super Bowl rematch had the country watching. “I lost an endorsement”. No flag was thrown, but Newton was doubled over in pain after that drive.
Stewart said after the game he felt like he led with his shoulder, not his head.
Assessing a player for concussions is a collective effort that includes team physicians, athletic trainers, medical spotters who watch the game from a booth using binoculars or on video replay, and an unaffiliated neurological consultant, also known as a UNC, according to league protocol.
The biggest hit on Newton was delivered by safety Darian Stewart on Carolina’s final possession, leaving the QB motionless on the ground for several seconds. “They concluded there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player from the game”.
The NFL said the inquiry does not suggest officials believe protocol was not properly followed but that it wants to protect the safety of the players.
“We are reviewing the matter”, union spokesperson George Atallah told USA TODAY Sports. That said, Newton is very good at looking fine when he most certainly isn’t. “Yeah, I have Jonathan Stewart on me, but I’m like, ‘Cam’s running the ball'”.
“I was going to drill it, no double in my mind”, said Gano, who was wide left. I never try to take out a player.
Friday the National Football League reviewed the tape and admitted that Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall should have been penalized for a headshot against Newton in the third quarter of the game.
For his part, Newton, who showed up to his press conference late because he was receiving treatment for the beating he took at the hands of the Broncos all night, didn’t make excuses about the hits afterward. He was also was less effective passing, completing just 7 of 16 passes for 83 yards with an interception after halftime.
“Hey man, look, I tackled him three times yesterday and I realized how heavy he was”, Marshall said. “Because that’s what we’re trying to eliminate from our game”. “We’ve seen him limping throughout the game”.
All told, a flawless chance for Newton to cry foul, right?
“We were playing hard”, Kubiak said.
The NFL has released a statement citing Brandon Marshall’s hit on Newton as a flaggable offence, which is agreeable.
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When the play calls for Newton to run the ball, or he decides to take off on his own, there’s not much officials can do.
