Broncos' Derek Wolfe calls for Panthers' offensive lineman to be fined
After multiple helmet-to-helmet hits on Cam Newton Thursday night, Denver Broncos’ defensive end Derek Wolfe called for a Panthers’ offensive lineman to be fined.
Much of the conversation after Thursday night’s NFL season opener has centered around multiple helmet-to-helmet hits on Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton. All but one went without a penalty being called, and somehow Newton never went through the league’s concussion protocol.
Denver Broncos’ defensive end Derek Wolfe left the game with a neck injury, and he was able to return without much apparent incident. But that didn’t stop him from going all-in on the Panthers’ offensive line after the game, with one guy specifically in mind.
Here’s what Wolfe had to say, via Troy Renck of Denver 7 News.
“Their offensive linemen were targeting. No. 70 should be fined. Write that,” Wolfe said. “If they care about player safety they will watch what’s happening along the line. They were targeting (us). Just play hard.”
No. 70 for Carolina is starting right guard Trai Turner, who was given a penalty for taunting after the Panthers scored the first touchdown on Thursday night. That left him one personal foul shy of being ejected, under the league’s new policy, but it’s unfair to assume Turner pushed that envelope based strictly on Wolfe’s comments.
Newton quickly dismissed the idea that Broncos’ defenders were targeting him on Thursday night, which is expected. It’s also fine that Wolfe was mad or frustrated after being injured during the game. But pointing to questionable tactics by any Panthers’ offensive lineman is, to put it kindly and perhaps too simply, naive.
In terms of fines to be levied from Thursday night’s contest, Broncos’ safety Darian Stewart and Broncos’ linebacker Brandon Marshall are sure to get a letter from the league office next week for helmet hits on Newton. A potential fine for Turner or any other Carolina offensive lineman, if Wolfe is to be believed, will require a far more nuanced investigation that simply may not happen.
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