WASHINGTON: Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera backed up quarterback Cam Newton's criticism of NFL officials for failing to call illegal hits against him.
Newton went off on officials after a 30-20 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He was particularly incensed about a below-the-knees hit by Cardinals tackle Calais Campbell on which no foul was called.
Newton said the hit bent his leg backward and could have torn a ligament.
"It's really taking the fun out of the game for me," Newton said. "At times I don't even feel safe. And enough is enough."
Rivera told reports on Monday that he agreed.
"Cam is correct," the coach said. "I support him 100 percent in this. I was disappointed it wasn't called. But I get the benefit of looking up at the screen and seeing it on replay. It confirmed what I thought. It's difficult. You'd like to see those calls made. I'd love to see our quarterback get those calls."
Rivera said that he thinks Newton's size is the reason the flags aren't being thrown.
"I think he gets a little bit of the Shaquille O'Neal treatment," he added, a reference to the towering former NBA star.
"He's a bigger guy for that position as opposed to some of the smaller quarterbacks of stature. When they get hit, they roll around to the ground. When he gets it, he absorbs them and it doesn't look as bad."
Arians: Replay system was shut
off on 'blown' fumble call
Meantime, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says the "fumble" ruling that resulted in the Carolina Panthers' first touchdown Sunday was not overturned because the NFL replay system had been shut down.
All touchdowns are reviewed but after Carolina's Thomas Davis picked up the ball and ran 46 yards for a score, the conversion kick came quickly and the call stood.
Television replays showed that Carson Palmer had shoved the ball forward in the direction of running back David Johnson.
Arians said he was told the replay official "did not have the proper feed for instant replay, so they shut it down" to fix it.
Arians said "it was confirmed" later that it was a forward pass.
The Cardinals went on to lose 30-20.
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Newton went off on officials after a 30-20 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. He was particularly incensed about a below-the-knees hit by Cardinals tackle Calais Campbell on which no foul was called.
Newton said the hit bent his leg backward and could have torn a ligament.
"It's really taking the fun out of the game for me," Newton said. "At times I don't even feel safe. And enough is enough."
Rivera told reports on Monday that he agreed.
"Cam is correct," the coach said. "I support him 100 percent in this. I was disappointed it wasn't called. But I get the benefit of looking up at the screen and seeing it on replay. It confirmed what I thought. It's difficult. You'd like to see those calls made. I'd love to see our quarterback get those calls."
Rivera said that he thinks Newton's size is the reason the flags aren't being thrown.
"I think he gets a little bit of the Shaquille O'Neal treatment," he added, a reference to the towering former NBA star.
"He's a bigger guy for that position as opposed to some of the smaller quarterbacks of stature. When they get hit, they roll around to the ground. When he gets it, he absorbs them and it doesn't look as bad."
Arians: Replay system was shut
off on 'blown' fumble call
Meantime, Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says the "fumble" ruling that resulted in the Carolina Panthers' first touchdown Sunday was not overturned because the NFL replay system had been shut down.
All touchdowns are reviewed but after Carolina's Thomas Davis picked up the ball and ran 46 yards for a score, the conversion kick came quickly and the call stood.
Television replays showed that Carson Palmer had shoved the ball forward in the direction of running back David Johnson.
Arians said he was told the replay official "did not have the proper feed for instant replay, so they shut it down" to fix it.
Arians said "it was confirmed" later that it was a forward pass.
The Cardinals went on to lose 30-20.
The NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
