Broncos' Hits on Cam Newton Bring Back Bountygate Memories
After a slew of controversial hits on Cam Newton, one has to wonder–was it part of a bigger plan?
As NBC’s coverage of the NFL’s Thursday night kick off for the 2017 season started pitting the Denver Broncos against the Carolina Panthers in a rematch of Super Bowl 50, the trending story was Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall’s kneeling protest during the playing of the National Anthem. Though that story is still being covered, by far, the water cooler discussion Friday following the game was on the number of head hits Cam Newton, Carolina’s quarterback, took during the course of the game.
That number is four is you weren’t counting. To the casual observer, the hits seemed purposeful and malicious. Only one of the obvious infractions was called by the referees as a personal foul.
Concussion Protocol
New rules and initiatives were announced in the preceding offseason to further protect quarterbacks who frequently find themselves in vulnerable and defenseless situations and to limit the number of concussions players sustain.
A “concussion protocol” has been put in place to observe and diagnose potential cases and to remove players from the game should they fail to pass some simple tests conducted by an unaffiliated “neurotrauma consultant”.
Much of the discussion following Thursday night’s contest was on the game officials and Carolina coaching staff neglecting to follow the new protocol. Quoting an NFL spokesman, Brian McCarty, in a story in USA Today, “During stoppage in play while on-field officials were in the process of administrating penalties, the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and team physician requested video from the spotters and reviewed the play. They concluded there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player from the game.”
Most watching the game saw the something entirely different. Newton seemed woozy, mildly disoriented and not himself following the last and perhaps most severe of these hits.
An article on the SB Nation website has some amazing videos of the hits delivered on Newton. Those can be seen here.
Bountygate
For many in the Who Dat Nation, the seemingly obvious coordination and maliciousness of the attacks on Cam Newton brought back memories of allegations against the New Orleans Saints under the purview of defensive coordinator Greg Williams, which led to the darkest point in Black and Gold history: Bountygate.
August 12, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams during the first half of a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE
The gist of the Bountygate scandal was that monetary incentives were being offered to players on the Saints defense by then defensive coordinator, Greg Williams, between 2009 and 2011 to “take out” opposing teams’ quarterbacks. At the time, there were a litany of voices in the Saints camp putting out the “everybody does it” storyline. Whether or not that’s true doesn’t make it right.
But financial incentive or not, the intent to purposefully, physically harm another team’s player to take him out of a game is a serious allegation. The penalties doled out to the Saints organization following the scandal were extreme. History making.
Greg Williams was banned from the NFL indefinitely though this decision was overturned the following year. Sean Payton was suspended from all team activities for a full season. GM Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games. Several players were also handed suspensions though these were overturned when the league determined the coaches were the driving force behind the wrongdoing.
Officiating
Witnessing what happened in the Broncos/Panthers match up, it seems improbable that the hits directed at Newton’s head were not part of a larger plan.
Aug 5, 2012; Canton, OH, USA; The whistle and uniform of NFL replacement referee Rusty Spindel before the pro football hall of fame preseason game between the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE
Certainly Gene Steratore and his officiating crew should be under extra scrutiny this season. NFL officials zealously call special teams blocks in the back, offensive holding and pass interference. With increased emphasis this season on protecting quarterbacks and avoiding concussions, the fact that three flagrant helmet to helmet blows on Newton went uncalled is inexplicable.
Accountability
Further, Denver head coach Gary Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Philllips should be under investigation by the league to determine if there was any influence on their part in the severe quality and number of illegal hits on Newton.
More from Who Dat Dish
Inaction by the NFL on the issues raised in this game will be simply unacceptable. There are already allegations that the league and its officials treat Cam Newton differently due to his size and youth. This needs to be put to rest and quickly.
If these allegations aren’t answered by the league in a timely fashion, the league will further suffer from the scrutiny brought about by the press and movies like Will Smith’s “Concussion”. The rest of footballdom will be watching, from college, to high school, to Pop Warner. The NFL must take its role in the fight for player safety more seriously.
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