Panthers coach Ron Rivera yesterday "doubled down" on QB Cam Newton's comments about NFL officials not doing enough to protect him, and agreed that "something needs to be done," according to Jourdan Rodrigue of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Rivera said that he "reached out" to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and that he has "discussed his concerns with the league multiple times." He added that Goodell "responded." Rivera did "not divulge the specifics of the conversations -- but he thinks the league has 'responded appropriately.'" Rivera said that he thinks Newton's "size is the reason the flags aren't being thrown." Rivera: "He gets a little bit of the Shaquille O’Neal treatment. He’s a bigger guy for that position as opposed to some of the smaller quarterbacks of stature. When they get hit, they roll around to the ground. When he gets it, he absorbs them and it doesn’t look as bad" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/1). ESPN's Louis Riddick said, "These kind of calls cannot be missed. They've been missed throughout Cam's career. Cam has not gotten the benefit of the doubt." Riddick: "You don't want to lose this guy in a day and age where you need superstars like that on the football field, not to get special treatment but treatment per the rules in the pocket." He added, "Let's not kid one another saying, ‘Tom Brady doesn't get treated like any other quarterback.’ Of course he does.” ESPN's Adam Schefter said, "There's a lack of consistency from officials in regards to protecting quarterbacks, and they're the most important currency in this game. ... Without the quarterbacks, the game loses interest. When they lose interest, they lose ratings. And if they lose ratings, they lose money” (“NFL Insiders,” ESPN, 10/31).
GOOD MOVE FOR CAM TO COMPLAIN? ESPN’s Steve Young said Newton complaining about the officiating "could be a great tactical move by him, because he'll get calls now." Young: "If anything happens, the flags are going to come out to prove that they're not looking for trouble with Cam Newton" ("Monday Night Countdown," ESPN, 10/31). ESPN's Bomani Jones said Newton is a “superstar in this league," and getting calls is "typically now how it goes" for stars. Jones: "They normally don’t have to explain why they need to be looked out for by the referees to an extent.” He wondered if referees "concentrate on certain dudes." Jones: "You’re going to tell me that Drew Brees is just somehow a magnet for roughing the passer calls or a referee is looking out? That's why he’s had in double digits of these since last year and Cam Newton has had zero” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN, 10/31). But ESPN's LZ Granderson said there were 11 other QBs "who had missed roughing the passer calls.” While it may be “true they’re missing Cam’s calls, there are 11 other quarterbacks getting calls that are missed as well” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 10/31). Pro Football HOFer Jim Kelly noted there are a "lot of quarterbacks out there that aren't getting the calls." However, he is not sure Newton should have said anything publicly, as Newton does not want "people on the defensive side to think that you're thinking about other things than reading the coverage” (“Monday Night Countdown,” ESPN, 10/31).
