It wasn’t just the helmet-to-helmet hit on Cam Newton that elicited interest and drew attention away from the NFL spread but also the way that it was dealt with.
The NFL and NFLPA announced Sunday that they were commencing investigations designed to review the manner in which the Newton hit was handled during Thursday Night’s game.
Making the announcement on Twitter, the NFLPA explained that their investigation was designed to determine whether medical professionals complied with the necessary protocols following the Newton hit.
There were at least four helmet-to-helmet collisions Thursday Night involving Cam Newton. Of all these hits, only the last one elicited the call of a penalty, though that infraction was quickly negated by an intentional grounding penalty called on Newton.
It is that final helmet-to-helmet hit that sparked interest. It was this hit which sent medical officials onto the field in order to check on Newton. Following a brief analysis, the medical professionals determined that Newton had showed no signs of a concussion. This report quickly went out on the NFL Network, with ESPN confirming it soon after.
The medical officials, to their credit, took a moment to analyze the hit on video. By this time, Newton was face down on the turf and he was visibly shaken. What they saw must have caused some concern because the officials went out to the field to see Newton soon after.
The NFL Network reported that the game was stopped for less than three minutes. It was during this period, while Newton was checked and cleared, that the offsetting penalties were sorted out.
Interestingly enough, the NFL wasted no time, releasing a statement the very next day (Friday) and saying that the league’s concussion protocol had been executed appropriately. There must have been some uncertainty, though, because the Players’ Union emphasized their determination to investigate the matter regardless. The NFLPA’s findings could actually dispute the findings made by the NFL.
In such a case, the union could appeal to a neutral arbitrator. This arbitrator would have the power to punish those parties that are considered responsible for Newton’s physical and mental wellbeing, this including the Panthers. The Union Spokesman George Atallah was heard saying that they would use the powers granted them by the new policy to look into Newton’s case.
The Panthers quarterback took some notable hits during the Thursday game. It should be noted that Ron Rivera, Panthers Coach, had little to say about the decision made by officials and doctors to not place Newton in the concussion protocol. He did question the non-calls, though.
On the medical issues, Rivera said that he wouldn’t question the doctors. Medical professionals in the league have a strict set of rules that they are expected to follow. As far as Rivera is concerned, they knew best when they decided that Cam Newton didn’t manifest the sorts of symptoms that necessitated his departure from the game.
According to team officials, Cam Newton was interviewed four times after the game to ensure that there were no notable side effects from the hits he had taken. And according to Rivera, Newton passed all these tests.