Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is in the NFL's concussion protocol after suffering his first documented concussion as a pro in Sunday's 48-33 loss to the Falcons.
With the Panthers trailing 34-18 with 11:47 left in the fourth quarter, Newton slowed up near the goal line when it appeared he'd go in untouched on a two-point conversion run. He apparently didn't see Falcons' rookie linebacker Deion Jones, who came from Newton's left side.
Even though there was helmet-to-helmet contact, Jones wasn't penalized because the hit was made with the side and not the crown of the helmet, plus Newton wasn't defenseless.
The play was similar to when Newton coasted toward the goal line on a second-half run in New Orleans last December. After that hit by linebacker Michael Mauti, Newton was tested for a concussion before leading the Panthers to a comeback win.
"I deserved to get hit like that, taking that foot off the gas," he said after that game. "I was so shocked. The guy just came out of nowhere it felt like. But it won’t happen again, any time I get an opportunity to score.
"There was probably a lot of people that wanted to see that happen. I'm going to talk to my father tonight, and he's probably going to tell me what I already expect: I deserved it."
After slowly picking himself off the Georgia Dome turf, Newton immediately walked over to the Panthers' bench where he was checked out by trainers and doctors. He then went back to the locker room while backup Derek Anderson finished the game.
Players in the concussion protocol aren't allowed to talk to reporters, and during coach Ron Rivera's postgame availability, he wasn't aware Newton had suffered a concussion because he hadn't yet met with the team's trainers and doctors.
With Newton in the protocol, his status for Week Five's Monday Night game against the Bucs is up in the air.
"Obviously you don't want to see it on anyone, of course, let alone your quarterback," tight end Greg Olsen said. "There's a protocol in place and we'll follow it. Obviously the first concern is that he's OK."
Added linebacker Luke Kuechly:
"I don't know what the situation is with that, but what I know about Cam is he's one of the toughest guys I know and he'll be out there as soon as he can."
At this point, it can’t do much more harm to the offense to put Cam in a bacta tank for a week or two.
I still think helmet-to-helmet should always be illegal, no exceptions. Those helmets are harder than the armor that knights wore in the Middle Ages.
The most important thing, of course, is for Cam to get well.
Derek Anderson has led us to a few victories over Tampa.
The turnaround begins on Monday Night Football. Keep Pounding.