SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett Bell breaks down all the story lines coming out of wild-card weekend in the NF
Based on a recent rule change, the Carolina Panthers may have been in violation of the NFL’s concussion protocol in the team’s handling of quarterback Cam Newton’s treatment of an apparent head injury in Sunday’s 31-26 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round.
After taking a big hit from defensive tackle Tyeler Davison near his head and neck with 9:12 left in the fourth quarter, Newton remained on the ground and appeared to be dazed from the blow. Carolina was down by five points at the time.
“No, he actually got poked in the eye,” Rivera said when asked after the game if Newton went through concussion protocol. “They took him in (the tent) just to make sure as a precautionary, but when he was sitting on the ground, they were trying to wipe whatever when he got poked. So that’s what that was.
Newton eventually got to his feet and started to walk toward the sideline before cameras caught him stumble and lose his footing and head to the turf. While there, medical trainers examined him and later escorted him to the bench area.
“I know it was a precautionary concussion protocol thing that happened,” Newton said. “But it wasn’t my head, it was my eye. My helmet had came down low enough over my eyelid and it got pressed into the player’s stomach, I believe. I thought maybe somebody stuck his finger in my eye.”
Said Saints defensive end Cam Newton: “I don’t know. There are supposed to be guys up in the air, in the skybox. Didn’t he look a little glazed to you? A little fazed? He definitely wasn’t unfazed.”
The Panthers announced that Newton was evaluated for a concussion and cleared. He placed a towel over his head after leaving the tent some time later and returned to the bench, never leaving the sideline. Newton was replaced by backup Derek Anderson, but re-entered the game after having missed just one offensive snap.
But changes applied to the concussion protocol on Dec. 11 by the league’s head, neck, and spine committee “require a locker room concussion evaluation for all players demonstrating gross or sustained vertical instability (e.g., stumbling or falling to the ground when trying to stand).”
The changes came on the heels of Houston Texans quarterback Tom Savage returning to a Dec. 10 game after shaking on the ground following a hit, as well as Seattle Seahawks quarterback returning to action in a Nov. 9 game despite not undergoing a required concussion evaluation. The Seahawks were fined $100,000 for the infraction, while the Texans were not disciplined after a joint investigation by the league and NFL Players Association.
In a statement to NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport after the game, the league said, “We are in contact now with the Panthers’ medical staff and we will not comment further until those conversations are completed.”
After the game, Rivera claimed that Newton’s going to the turf was an act.
“Well we wanted him to sit down to give D.A. a chance to warm up, because (Newton) was injured,” Rivera said. “Instead of trying to bravely walk off, we wanted him to take a knee and our guy a couple of throws.”
Newton finished the game 24 of 40 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball eight times for 37 yards.
courtesy= .usatoday.com
