The NFL fined Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell $18,000 for the low hit on Carolina quarterback Cam Newton that Newton called his “breaking point” according to USA Today Sports’ Garrett Bell.
The NFL fined Cardinals DE Calais Campbell $18k for the hit Cam Newton complained about
The league also acknowledged that Campbell should have been penalized for the hit.
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Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
On Monday, ESPN’s Ed Werder learned from a league source that the NFL had reviewed the play and determined the officials should have thrown a flag.
Campbell did apologize to Newton after the hit. A source with knowledge of the situation told Bell that Campbell will appeal the fine.
After the Carolina Panthers’ 30-20 win over the Cardinals in Week 8, Newton said the hit could have torn his ACL. It prompted him to approach NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss the hits he’s been taking throughout the season.
“It’s taking the fun out of the game for me,” Newton said.
There have been a number of hits on Newton this season that were questionable. During Carolina’s season opener against the Denver Broncos, Newton took several helmet-to-helmet shots, but only one was flagged by officials. A helmet-to-helmet hit from Falcons linebacker Deion Jones in Week 4 sidelined Newton with a concussion. Jones was neither penalized nor fined by the league.
Newton told reporters Tuesday that he had spoken to Goodell about the fact that he’s taking hits inside the pocket where he should be protected, and he said it was a “great discussion” according to Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith.
“I got my point across, he got his point across,” Newton said. “We’ll see Sunday and moving forward.”
Newton’s ability to make plays with his legs does open him up to more hits when he runs the ball, but when he’s in the pocket, he should be afforded the same protection as other quarterbacks.
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