On Thursday, September 8, the Carolina Panthers suited up to play the team that stole their Super Bowl dreams, the Denver Broncos. A coin was flipped, the ball was snapped and somehow, Cam Newton, star Panthers quarterback, was speared with multiple helmet-to-helmet blows with not nearly enough penalties. This leaves us with one question: why?
Why are we letting the top quarterback in the NFL be injured without penalty or reasonable concern for his health? Although Newton is perceived as cavalier and potentially arrogant by some audiences at home and in the stands, does that really warrant the overall treatment he has been given throughout his professional career? No matter who the player is or what their personal and professional history looks like, there is no reason for intentional injury and negligent officiating.
On Sunday, September 11, the NFL released a statement regarding the Concussion Protocol and that they would be conducting a review to ensure that medical protocol was followed correctly. This is not enough.
It is not enough to just say, "we're going to double check that health protocol is followed" and avoid mentioning the gross negligence seen in the game's refereeing. It leaves too much room for fans to read between the lines and extrapolate that the NFL is covering its ass and making sure that it doesn't look liable for any injury caused by foul play.
Rather than being a reactive organization, as the NFL so many times is, it is time to pick up the gauntlet and be as proactive as possible. Install and enforce new protocols that will hold officials, coaches and players alike to a higher standard of conduct both on and off the field. Level suspension as a threat to anyone who allows intentional injury to occur. It is overwhelmingly obvious that fining people with a large sum of wealth does nothing to actually circumvent the problem at hand. When suspension is involved, it harms everyone on the team and persuades players to act at a higher level of sportsmanship.
If a referee sees someone spear a quarterback in the helmet and refuses to throw a flag, there should be punishment. If a coach sees their player intentionally cause an injury without reprimanding them, there should be punishment. If a player does unnecessary harm to another player, there should be punishment.
There's a reason why these same offenses are grounds for removal and potential assault charges in lesser leagues. Being a national organization with a seemingly bottomless budget is no excuse for allowing your members to act in such an unprofessional and unsportsmanlike manner.
You have children watching you at home, NFL -- it's time to set the right example.
