e a quarterback scrambling, running out of the pocket and you get targeted, I know in college football they throw you out for something like that, he said. | Forum

DENVER --?Cam Newton took a vicious shot to the head in the final minute Thursday night, a hit that left him facedown in the grass. Air Max Plus Online . It was the kind of hit the NFL swears it wants to eliminate from the sport. Newton did not get taken out of the game. He did not get checked for a concussion. In fact, he did not even gain a single penalty yard as a reward for his pain.Instead the officials ruled that Darian Stewarts flying, helmet-to-helmet hit was nullified by Newtons hurried throw on the run. The refs called it intentional grounding, refusing to consider that the Carolina Panthers quarterback got rid of the ball to protect himself from the speeding Denver Broncos safety who was coming in too high.Ron Rivera, one of his staff members, an ATC spotter up in the press box -- someone, anyone -- should have removed Newton from this Super Bowl rematch gone awry. In a pro football age of brain trauma and CTE, common sense says Newton needed to be escorted off the field. The rulebook says the same thing. Teams can be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars, and ultimately docked draft picks, if they keep sending out players who should be having their heads examined instead.The NFL released a statement Friday saying that a Panthers team physician and an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant requested video from a spotter, reviewed Newtons physical response to Stewarts personal foul, and determined there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player from the game.Really? No indications of a concussion after Newton reacted to the hit as if hed absorbed a sweeping left hook from an in-his-prime Mike Tyson? This league statement is just as alarming as the head shots themselves.We saw what happened with a concussed Case Keenum last year, when protocol was somehow forgotten in the staggering decision the Rams made to keep him under center. We heard from Newton last year too, when he complained about absorbing punishment that other quarterbacks dont have to take.He didnt have to say anything Thursday night after Graham Ganos missed 50-yard field goal in the closing seconds gave Denver a 21-20 victory. As football coaches love to point out, the film never lies. And the film shows the Broncos hitting Newtons head at least four times and getting away with it.I feel s----y, Newton said in his postgame news conference. He had his reasons. Brandon Marshall launched himself into Newtons face, and Von Miller delivered his own helmet-to-helmet hit, one that looked less like a launch but was a clear shot nonetheless. The quarterback stayed in there and weathered it all, making some gutsy plays to give Gano the chance he couldnt convert.Newton is a tough guy, you know, and, with him a 6-foot-5 245-pounder who runs like a tailback, the refs allow defenders to take liberties against him that they dont permit against more fragile and less mobile quarterbacks.It has to stop. Not tomorrow, today. Everyone around the league likes and respects Gene Steratore, the referee who worked this game, including Newton.But does anyone truly believe Steratore wouldve allowed pocket passers Tom Brady or, say, the now-retired Peyton Manning to take multiple shots to the head without penalizing the offending opponents? And on the one personal foul Steratore did call against Stewart, does anyone truly believe the ref wouldve called intentional grounding on Brady or Manning when it was so clear the approaching illegal hit inspired the throwaway?Its not my job to question the officials, Newton said. I really like this officiating crew, so I know it wasnt something they did intentionally. ... But its not fun getting hit in the head.It isnt fun, and it isnt fair. In fact, its three country miles removed from fair.Weve got to treat Cam like a quarterback, Panthers tight end?Greg Olsen said. I know hes the biggest guy on the field, but hes still a quarterback.A great one, too. Newton was a 14-0 quarterback for the Carolina Panthers late last year, and he finished the season as a 17-2 quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. Yet it all ended in such profound failure that the overwhelming choice for league MVP was left to chase the ghost of redemption. Already.These are the terms of engagement for a transcendent talent at the one NFL position that matters most, and the architect of the Denver team that denied Newton seven months ago, John Elway, could tell him all about that. Elway was 0-for-3 at the Super Bowl, and forever reminded of his big-game breakdowns, before Terrell Davis and a brilliant O-line walked into his life in the nick of time and helped enhance his historical standing in the sport. Elway never found a Terrell Davis for Manning in his final football hours, but he did build him a defense that treated Newton like a tackling dummy, and ultimately sent him into Thursday nights opener with a whole lot left to prove.Manning carried the Super Bowl 50 trophy out of the tunnel in the pregame, one final painful reminder before Newton got his hands on the ball, and the Broncos got their hands on him.I try to warn the refs every time I do get hit in the head, Newton said, but if the flag is not called, then its OK.No, its not. And its not OK for Rivera and his staff, the ATC spotters and/or the independent sideline trauma monitors to allow Newton to play on after that frightening hit from Stewart left the quarterback facedown for too long.Im going to wait until I see the tape, Rivera said when asked about the hits Newton absorbed. Im not going to pass judgment on anybody.He was talking about the officials. But why didnt the Carolina coach take matters into his own hands and help his franchise player? Why didnt Rivera send in the backup, Derek Anderson, and try his luck against the Broncos the next time they meet up in the Super Bowl?Asked whether hed gone through the concussion protocol, Newton said, They asked me a couple of questions, but nothing too serious. The quarterback didnt identify the people or the questions, but he did say this exchange took place after the game and not during it. In the end, the Panthers, the league and the officials were all at fault. Nobody did enough to protect the defending league MVP from a relentless and lawless assault on his head, and that can never, ever happen again. Cheap Air Max Plus Shoes . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Air Max Plus For Sale . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.cheapairmaxplus.com/ . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St.CLEVELAND -- The losses are now coming with lumps for the Browns.The 11th one this season was the most painful yet.Cleveland was manhandled on Sunday by the Steelers, who had eight sacks in a 24-9 battering. Pittsburgh gave Browns rookie quarterback Cody Kessler his second concussion in five weeks, an injury that could end a tough first season for him.Kessler had to be helped from the field late in the third quarter after he was wobbled on a hard hit by Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons. Timmons launched himself at the rookie and appeared to strike him with his shoulder while the QB was being dragged down. Kesslers head snapped back and also hit the ground.As he was being checked by medical personnel, Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor laid on the ground next to his teammate to see if he was OK.Following the game, a passionate and disgusted Pryror sounded off about Clevelands quarterbacks being abused.We cant keep doing this, said Pryor, a former QB. Its as simple as that. Im tired of our guys getting hit. Im nobody to complain because I dont run it, but its personal for me because I care for those guys. I dont like seeing them get hit like that. Point blank, period. Somebodys got to say it. Im gonna say it.Browns coach Hue Jackson said its possible Kessler may need extra time to recover from his second concussion since Oct. 23.I am definitely going to talk to our medical staff because this is about a young mans career and future, Jackson said. So we have to do the right thing.The Steelers (5-5) came in with a league-low 13 sacks, but teed off against a revamped Cleveland offensive line. Now suffering through the worst season in franchise history, the Browns (0-11) did not try to re-sign free center Alex Mack or right tackle Mitchell Schwartz in the offseason, and left guard Joel Bitonio sustained a season-ending foot injury in Week 5.Star left tackle Joe Thomas has taken a diplomatic stance on the changes. But following another lopsided loss, the perennial Pro Bowler said the upheaval has been costly.We lost a couple of really good players, the best at their position, he said, referring to Mack and Schwartz. That was our strategy in the offseason. Thats what we decided to do. You have to lie in the bed that you made.Josh McCown replaced Kessler in the fourth quarter and took hard knocks as well, getting his chin bloodied by a viicious shot by Stephon Tuitt. Nike Air Max Plus Wholesale. ts possible the Browns could have Robert Griffin III back at some point. Hes been out since breaking a bone in his shoulder in the opener and will return to practice this week. Griffin probably wont be ready to face the New York Giants next Sunday.At this point, Jackson is just trying to make sure his team survives.I dont want this group to go backward any more than what we already have, he said. I have to regroup with the guys and regroup with our coaches, and we have to keep pressing forward.MAN OF STEEL: Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison became the teams career sacks leader with 77 +. Afterward, the 38-year-old became emotional when he was presented with the game ball, saying was sad that his late father wasnt there to see it.Awesome, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. Hes one of the best that Ive ever seen or played with. Im glad hes on our side.FRONT FORCE: The Steelers got back to basics -- running the ball, stopping the run -- to end a four-game losing streak.Roethlisberger didnt get sacked and LeVeon Bell rushed for a season-high 146 as the Steelers improved to 2/3 on the road.With the win, and Baltimores loss to Dallas, Pittsburgh moved back into a tie atop the AFC North.The offensive line was not satisfied with how we ran the ball against the Ravens two weeks ago and against the Cowboys last week, Bell said. The line was putting in a lot of time in the film room over the last two weeks, and it showed. They kept me clean, kept Ben clean.PASS THE STUFFING: Its a short week for the Steelers, who will play at Indianapolis on Thanksgiving.Anytime we can come in and get a win, get things back into perspective, its good, said WR Antonio Brown, who had eight catches for 76 yards.CHEAP SHOT?: Thomas felt Timmons shot on Kessler was excessive.To me when you have a quarterback scrambling, running out of the pocket and you get targeted, I know in college football they throw you out for something like that, he said. Hopefully the legislation in the NFL is trying to eliminate that type of play. Quarterbacks get hurt when they get hit like that. 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