The NFL and NFL Players Association cleared the of wrongdoing in their handling of an injury suffered by quarterback during a playoff game earlier this month.
The league and union determined Newton did not need to be sent to the locker room for an evaluation under the sport’s concussion protocols.
The NFL said in a written statement that its review with the NFLPA “established that there was no protocol violation. Mr. Newton was properly evaluated for a concussion in the sideline medical tent and did not sustain a concussion.”
The NFLPA, in a separate statement, said: “Our review of all of the facts do not support a claim of inappropriate medical care. Mr. Newton was immediately evaluated for a concussion and cleared by the team physician and unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant. We will continue to advocate for improvements to and strict compliance with all health and safety protocols for NFL players.”
Newton dropped to his knees while on his way to the sideline after absorbing a hard hit late in the Panthers’ first-round playoff loss at New Orleans. He was taken to the medical tent on the Panthers’ sideline. Newton missed one offensive play but later returned to the game. The Panthers announced he’d been evaluated for a possible concussion and cleared.
Under recent modifications made to the concussion protocols, a player must be taken to the locker room for a concussion evaluation if he is unable to stand or falls after being hit in the head. A sideline evaluation is not sufficient under those circumstances.
But the league said after its review that did not apply in this case. Newton suffered an eye injury on the play in question and had suffered a knee injury earlier in the game, the league said, and was told to take a knee while on his way to the Panthers’ sideline.
“Mr. Newton did not display ‘gross motor instability,’ which would have necessitated a locker room evaluation in the Concussion Protocol,” the league’s statement said.
According to the league, Newton had an abrasion over his right eye and “foreign matter” in his eye as a result of the hit he absorbed. His knee injury was suffered earlier in the game and involved ligament and cartilage damage that was confirmed by a subsequent MRI exam, according to the NFL. Newton was told to take a knee by both Panthers Coach Ron Rivera and a member of the team’s athletic training staff, the league said.
“We urge restraint among those who attempt to make medical diagnoses based upon the broadcast video alone,” the NFL said in its written statement. “Evaluation for a concussion requires not only an analysis of the broadcast video but an examination performed by a medical team familiar with the player and the relevant medical history.
“Review of this case confirmed again the vigilance, professionalism and conservative approach that is used by our NFL team medical staffs and independent medical providers. Each of these medical professionals is committed to the best care of our NFL players and is not influenced by game situation or the player’s role on the field. To suggest otherwise is irresponsible and not supported by the medical facts.”
The league and union jointly investigate potential violations of the concussion protocols. They generally issue a joint statement about their findings. In this case, they issued separate statements.
“In this case, our health and safety team immediately initiated our standard investigation process minutes after the hit Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton took during the game against the ,” the union’s statement said. “Our process for all cases includes interviews with the coaching staff, club medical staff, players, neutral doctors staffing the game and review of video evidence and written game reports. This case presented the issue of strict interpretation of the protocol language and the totality of the circumstances known to the medical staff at the time.”
