ENGLEWOOD-Cam Newton was hit four times in the helmet by Denver Broncos defenders Thursday. Safety Darian Stewart was flagged for his helmet-to-helmet shot on the Panthers’ final drive, but it was offset by an intentional grounding penalty on Newton.
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Cam Newton took a beating from the Broncos in the Panthers’ 21-20 loss in Denver on Thursday night, absorbing at least four helmet-to-helmet blows.
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 08: Quarterback Trevor Siemian #13 of the Denver Broncos throws the ball in the first quarter as outside linebacker Thomas Davis #58 of the Carolina Panthers rushes in at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.
“I don’t think we played a game as bad as we played [against the Panthers] all of past year”, added safety T.J. Ward. With 3:06 on the clock, Cam Newton and the Panthers’ offense had one timeout at their disposal. With Tom Brady a full-on villain to most of the league’s fanbase and Peyton Manning freeballing on his couch for DirecTV and Papa John’s, the Carolina Panthers quarterback is now the standard-bearer for NFL’s brand and, bu God, they should do more to protect it.
If nothing else, it showed that Newton is subject to a different set of rules than the league’s other QBs. In the 1st playoff game against Pittsburg he looked like himself again playing very well but he was going up against a very determined Steelers that was coming off a dramatic win a team that had 2 Time Super Bowl Champion BIG BEN Pittsburg was ready to ruin the party.
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, to be sure, Newton’s running ability puts him in harm’s way a lot more often than a pure drop-back passer. Kelvin Benjamin played fantastic in his first game back from his ACL injury last August, reeling in 91 receiving yards and a touchdown.
“I’m beginning to question the consistency of how games are being called – and who they would call this particular play against versus this particular player”, Cecil Newton told ESPN on Friday.
That’s no reason for the officials to continually look the other way. He never went through concussion protocol until after the game was over.
However, ESPN reports the National Football League has since admitted a 15-yard penalty should have been called on the Broncos.
All targeting calls are automatically subject to a video review, a necessary step in a violent game that’s almost impossible to keep a handle on in real time.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said Siemian “was poised” because Carolina’s fierce front seven didn’t pressure him enough. It is not up to me to make those decisions and those calls. More worrying, though, is the fact that the Panthers’ medical staff did not appear to evaluate Newton at all after the hit, and neither did the league concussion spotter.
Only, instead of championship rings, their latest clubbing of Cam Newton will surely come with some hefty fines.
During an interview with ESPN on Friday, Cecil Newton ripped the officiating crew that called the game, and also had some harsh words for the league itself. Maybe he was still groggy.
“I try and warn the refs every time I do get hit in the head”, he said.
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The Panthers led the league with 39 takeaways past year and they had two on Denver’s first two drives, including an interception by linebacker Thomas Davis. The Panthers took advantage easily looked like same high scoring panther offence from a year ago Cam would find Kelvin Benjamin for the touchdown to put them a 7-0 in the 1st quarter.
