Broncos safety Darian Stewart has a bill coming, and one of his teammates might get one as well.
The NFL has fined Stewart $18,231 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cam Newton on the final drive of Thursday night’s season-opening game, according to ESPN.com.
Several Broncos helmets clanked off of Newton’s helmet during the Broncos’ 21-20 win, but Stewart’s hit was the only one that was penalized even if it was offset by an intentional grounding penalty on Newton. Stewart’s fine won’t be offset, however.
The league is also looking into a hit to Newtons’ head by Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall in the third quarter. Marshall also could be fined.
At 6’6″, 260 pounds, Newton is bigger than a lot of the guys who try to take him down. He also has the skills of a running back. But he is a quarterback and officials and opponents have to realize that the rules protecting quarterbacks apply to Newton as well.
