Just one game into the 2016 regular season, the NFL’s concussion protocol is once again under intense scrutiny.
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was hit in the head multiple times during Thursday night’s season opener, but the only one that was penalized was a hit by Broncos safety Darian Stewart on the game’s final drive.
Newton wasn’t taken out of the game after that play. According to NFL.com, an independent neurotrauma consultant on the Panthers’ sideline as well as two independent spotters in the booth reviewed the play on video and determined that Newton didn’t need to be evaluated for a concussion. He wasn’t placed in the concussion protocol after the game.
Even though the NFL says that it’s taking head injuries more seriously, skeptics might wonder if the game situation influenced the decision of the consultant and the spotters even if they were unaffiliated with either team. The Panthers had the ball at their own 47 and trailed 21-20 with 42 seconds left in the game.
It could take the air out of the drama of a close game, but pulling a quarterback and evaluating him for a concussion in the middle of a potential game-winning drive could become a fairly regular occurrence as the NFL tries to improve its player-safety measures.
