Patriots react to game-changing hit on Cam Newton in win over Cardinals

The hit was likely legal.

It helped the Patriots win.

But that doesn’t mean that the Patriots liked it.

Cardinals rookie linebacker Isaiah Simmons was whistled for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty with less than a minute left after he crushed Newton out of bounds on his 14-yard run during the Pats’ final drive Sunday. Simmons didn’t lead with his head and the next step Newton took after the hit landed in bounds, making the tackle by definition legal. Nonetheless, a small scrum ensued on the Patriots sideline, catching center David Andrews, wide receiver N’Keal Harry and right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor among others.

Meanwhile, Newton kept his distance, as the referees helped separated players and made their call, while the chains were moved into Arizona territory, where Patriots kicker Nick Folk eventually delivered a 50-yard game-winner.

Lots of chatter on Twitter about the hit on Newton. I get it. It was a bit hit and looked like a foul but, it wasn’t. Newton was inbounds and Simmons did not lead with his helmet. It was more shoulder to shoulder with maybe incidental contact with the helmet. Not a foul.

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 29, 2020

“I’m happy Cam got back up. That just shows how tough he is,” Eluemunor said. “He’s one of the toughest people I’ve been around. And you feed off that energy. Him getting up and running back to the huddle, you’re like, ‘Damn, let’s go now. We ain’t got a choice. We have to win this game.’”

Pats running back James White, who scored the team’s only two offensive touchdowns, had been swallowed up on the play by a blitzing Cardinals defense. At the snap, Newton put the ball in White’s arms, then ripped it out after spotting a safety rushing recklessly off the edge. Taking off left with possession, Newton covered the necessary 13 yards for a first down and then paid a physical price that actually served more like a bonus.

Multiple Pats later referred to Simmons’ hit as a cheap shot, including White and safety Adrian Phillips.

“We definitely won’t let guys take cheap shots on (our) quarterback,” White said. “And at the same time, you’ve got to be composed because we don’t want to get a flag in that situation, as well, and move us backward. I think everybody did a great job of protecting him without getting a flag, because that would have been a huge mistake.”

Newton made a point after the game to say he didn’t sustain a concussion. He later connected on a 5-yard pass and handed the ball off on a 2-yard White run to set Folk up. After that came the kick, a celebration and a new appreciation for the moment his teammates stood up for him.

“The time I was down, to see the guys come to your protection, it means a lot. It means a lot,” Newton said. “For them to show that, I’m pretty sure they know I’d do the same thing for (them).”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2Jrd5Ty