Mike Pereira Comments on Referees' Treatment of Cam Newton vs. Broncos

NFL Network analyst and 49ers coach Steve Mariucci is on the league's safety advisory committee and said he expected the hits on Newton to be addressed at a scheduled meeting next week.

Broncos' safety, Darian Stewart, was fined $18,231 for his fourth quarter hit to Newton that drew a flag.

Stewart was called for roughing the passer, but Newton also was flagged for intentional grounding on the same play, meaning there were offsetting penalties.

Newton's truck will make its debut before Sunday's home opener against San Francisco in a parking lot a few blocks from the stadium.

"We reviewed all of the hits in the game, just like we do for every other game", Blandino said on Tuesday's edition of NFL Total Access, "and there was one call that we felt was missed". "I was just being aggressive but not really trying to aim for the head".

"On the referees' side, I can't worry about that", Newton said. The main issue here isn't the big hits on Newton, it is that his safety was compromised by the Panther's medical and coaching staff and he wasn't pulled from the game following multiple helmet to helmet hits.

Although Newton isn't anxious, the NFL can ill afford to drop the ball when it comes to player safety, especially in the wake of Wednesday's announcement that the league has invested $100 million in an initiative focused largely on preventing and learning about head injuries.

"Listen, I see where this is going". He was the head ref in the Bengals-Steelers playoff game, after which the league fined players (and coaches) from both teams nearly $85,000. But what I am going to point out for the National Football League is that you just don't get it. Elway wasn't blowing smoke when he said that the goal in Denver is to win from "now on". Here's a big, physical basketball player and he goes to set a pick, a guy falls down and they call a foul on him.

Cam Newton says, "My job is not to lobby for my health".

"If the player drops back, it's a quarterback - defenseless", Austin said.

Heading into Week 2, much of the focus will be on Cam Newton and how officials call his game against the 49ers.

The league and the NFL Players Association are investigating the hit from Stewart that occurred with 36 remaining in the loss to the Broncos.

Following the game, Stewart said he and the Denvers would continue playing hard defensively. "There is no doubt that everything will work out in itself. I understand I was kind of hurt, but that comes with football and it being a contact sport".

Marshall has said he, too, expected a fine for his hit on Newton and admitted it appeared as though he launched at Newton's head to try to tackle him.