| Advertisement |
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is the reigning MVP of the NFL, but coach Ron Rivera says he isn't being treated like someone of that stature. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newton was the recipient of four head-to-head blows during Thursday's 21-20 loss to the Denver Broncos and Rivera was displeased that only one penalty was called.
Advertisement
"I think there is a little bit of prejudice to that," Rivera said of the lack of penalties. "It's kind of like Shaquille O'Neal. He's a big, physical basketball player and he goes to set a pick and they fall down and they call a foul on him. Then he goes to shoot a layup and gets hacked and hammered and they don't call it."
Rivera said it was time for Newton to receive "veteran favoritism" from NFL officials. He said he will be sending a video of the hits to the league.
"Some of them you would like to see them throw the flags," Rivera said. "Some of them were hits that most certainly should have drawn flags."
In the final minute, Newton took a blow to the head from Denver safety Darian Stewart and initially lay motionless for a few seconds. He eventually got up and stayed in the contest.
The NFL released a statement on Friday saying medical officials determined that Newton didn't need to leave the game.
Rivera didn't see a need for his exit either.
"I'm not going to question the doctors, OK? There is a protocol," Rivera said. "There is a set of rules that these doctors, these trained professionals have to follow," Rivera said. "The understanding is when everything first happened they followed the protocol."
Newton said after Thursday's game that he didn't think the Broncos targeted his head.
