If you want to understand why Cam Newton has been so frustrated with the officiating all season, look no further than what happened on Monday night.
During the second quarter of Carolina’s game against Washington, Newton scrambled on third down and gained a yard. Newton slid as defenders were approaching, and he was clipped in the helmet by Washington’s Trent Murphy:
Cam Newton penalized for taunting… pic.twitter.com/XS6VcUKcUY
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) December 20, 2016
In an incredible twist, not only did Newton not get a penalty call for being hit in the head, but he was the one who was penalized. The Panthers QB was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and penalized 15 yards, which pushed the Panthers out of field goal range and forced a punt.
In case you’re keeping score at home, the message sent is that flipping a ball at an opponent who hits you in the head is worse than hitting a sliding QB in the head. I’m not so sure that’s what the NFL really should be saying.
And now you know exactly why Newton has complained about the officials with comments like this.
