The NFL and the NFL Players’ Association announced Sunday that they are both addressing circumstances surrounding decisions made by medical personnel during Thursday’s game between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos when the Panthers’ star quarterback Cam Newton took what appeared to be a brutal hit by Broncos safety Darian Stewart.
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Newton took several hard hits during the Panthers’ 21-20 loss to the Broncos, though only one drew a penalty and he was never placed in the concussion protocol.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has shown no symptoms of a concussion in the aftermath of Thursday’s opener against Denver that would prevent him from playing in Sunday’s home opener against San Francisco.
Newton rushed 11 times against Denver.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen isn’t necessarily too happy with the NFL’s handling of player safety around the league.
The Broncos had four helmet-to-helmet hits on Newton in the second half, including one by Marshall the league said should have been flagged, according to reports.
The NFL players union wants answers to the question many asked after Cam Newton suffered a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit on Thursday night.
Denver’s Darian Stewart was flagged for roughing the passer on the play (the penalty was offset by Newton’s for intentional grounding), and the National Football League admitted Friday, upon further review, that linebacker Brandon Marshall should have been flagged for an earlier hit on Newton.
Though Newton was deferential, and even complimented the referees – “I really like the officiating crew”, he said – some of his teammates were far less forgiving. Said rematch of Super Bowl 50 was just as exciting as the game from back in February.
Newton won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award without Benjamin past year, so just imagine what he can do with a player who had over 1,000 receiving yards in 2014. “They say, ‘Oh, but he runs the ball so much.’ Well, every single one of those times he was hit he was playing quarterback”.
“I would say Cam [Newton] just due to their outstanding offense”, Stewart said. (I don’t care) if he ran the ball 10 plays in a row as a running back, when he is a passer, he is a passer. Olsen has every right to publicly protect his quarterback.
“He’s a big quarterback and I know it takes a lot to bring him down. They’ll tell us, ‘This has been referred for discipline.’ And I appreciate the fact that they go through their process as well”.
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“It’s nearly insulting”, Olsen said.
