NFL Referees Need to Protect Cam Newton too!

Dec 19, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles against the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles against the Washington Redskins during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NFL has all these rules and regulations to protect the quarterbacks. Cam Newton is a quarterback so he should get his protection too.

The NFL has all these regulations that are meant to protect the players on the field. Defenseless receivers and defenders pursuing the ball-carrier are all protected from getting ear-holed. And of course, the flag will be thrown if you hit a quarterback in the head area.

But that rule doesn’t seem to apply to Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. After a nice run, he slid, giving himself up to avoid punishment and was hit hard in the head area. Yet all the referee threw the flag for was Newton dropping the ball on him after.

This is not a defense of Newton, who still needs to learn to keep his head. But my goodness, Washington Redskins LB Trent Murphy launched into his head area right in front of the referee. That’s two personal foul penalties that should have offset.

Later in the game, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins ran the ball and was pushed out of bounds. He had a crash landing but was still inbounds when Panthers DT Kawann Short pushed him. But unlike Murphy, Short was given a personal foul penalty.

Again, I’m not defending Newton’s actions but you can see why he’s been complaining. If the NFL is going to have rules to protect players, then those rules should protect everyone. Let’s not protect this quarterback and ignore what happens to that quarterback.

Some are comparing it to calling fouls on LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal because of their size and strength. Sure Newton is a big, strong quarterback but you call the game the same in football. Size and strength don’t factor into concussions and we only have one brain.

It’s time to start fining referees!