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NFL: Cam Newton And Roger Goodell Have Great Meeting

By Pete Camarillo
Published on: 18:31 PST, Nov 2, 2016

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said he had a great discussion with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week.

Newton said he and the commissioner had a great discussion, according to NFL.com.

“I got my point across. He got his point across,” the Carolina Panthers quarterback said Wednesday. “We ended on good terms, started on good terms, as well.”

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said that Goodell was a willing listener.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about getting special treatment, it’s about being treated the same across the board,” Rivera said.

What sparked Cam Newton to sit down with the NFL commissioner?

Cam Newton took a hit from Arizona defensive tackle Calais Campbell this week which sparked controversy.

Campbell went low on the quarterback and hit him in the knee. Campbell did not draw a penalty flag but he said he apologized to Newton after the game. USA Today reports that the defensive tackle will get a $18,231 fine. Campbell will appeal the fine, according to multiple sources.

The league admitted that they missed the call.

Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating told the NFL Network that the call should have been made. He said Campbell hit Newton in the knee with forcible contact.

“That’s a foul for roughing the passer,” Blandino said. “We want our referees to call that.”

They will address that call with crews moving forward, Blandino said.

It was one of many hits which has Cam Newton questioning if the NFL can protect him. After the game, he said it was just another blow in his career which has not drawn a penalty.

Newton also said that hits were taking the fun out of the game for him. Cam Newton said hits to the head were one thing, but not being protected in the pocket is another thing.

“I don’t know. It’s not fun. It’s not fun,” Newton told reporters. “It’s really taken the fun out of the game for me. Honestly, it really is because at times I don’t even feel safe and enough is enough.”

The Charlotte Observer‘s Tom Sorenson points out that no matter how hard you train, your knee does not get stronger.

This is one of the reasons why it is against NFL rules to hit the quarterback on the head or below the knee.

Hall of fame quarterback Warren Moon said Newton’s complaints were warranted via the Washington Post.

“I don’t feel like Cam’s beef is what’s happening to him when he goes outside the pocket. I feel like his beef is about those hits inside the pocket. I definitely get where he’s coming from. He’s not getting some of the calls he should get,” Moon said.

Moon added that Newton’s playing style outside of the pocket should not affect calls on him inside the pocket.

“Everyone is making the comparison to Shaquille O’Neal and how he didn’t get some calls because he was so big and strong and it didn’t seem to affect him.” Moon said via the Washington Post. “But it shouldn’t matter.”

Moon added that Cam should get those calls.

Mike Pereira, former league vice president of officiating did not think Newton’s criticism was deserved. “I don’t like whiners,” said Pereira.

In an MMQB podcast, the current vice president said Newton is not being officiated any differently than any other quarterback. Blandino also cited that Cam Newton is among the top 10 among quarterbacks over the past three-and-a-half years in late hits on the quarterback.

The NFL fined two Broncos players for hits on Newton in the regular season opener.

Will Newton get those calls moving forward?

This Sunday, Cam Newton faces the Los Angeles Rams. The defensive line will not change their plans for attacking the quarterback, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Rams defensive end William Hayes said Newton needs to slide faster if he does not like hits.

“We’re not going to out there to play dirty,” he said. “We just play physical and fast.”

Defensive tackle Dominique Easley said Cam Newton should not play the game if he is worried about getting hit.

“The whole point of the game is for 11 people to hit 11 people,” Easley said.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said he understands Newton’s frustration. However, he does not believe referees are missing calls on Cam because of his size.

Fisher said illegal hits are missed in every game. In general, Fisher said the league is doing the best they can to protect the quarterback.

The Rams coach said he is not concerned about his team coming under greater scrutiny in Sunday’s game. He is more concerned with stopping Newton from extending plays.

Cam Newton has completed 57 percent of his throws for 1508 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Panthers play the Rams at 4:05 p.m. EST.

[Featured Image by Bob Leverone/AP Images]

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