Panthers' Davis compares fouls on Newton to treatment of Shaq

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton endured a number of blows to the head in Thursday's season-opening game against the Denver Broncos, and his teammates are not happy about it.

While the Panthers did a better job protecting Newton than they did in the Super Bowl - only allowing three sacks in the game - he was on the receiving end of some vicious helmet-to-helmet hits. The only blow that was penalized was a hit by safety Darian Stewart that was wiped out by an intentional-grounding call.

After the game, several of the Panthers' leaders spoke up and implored the league to do more to protect their franchise quarterback.

"It's just something that the league is going to have to police and they're going to have to do a better job of and start treating him like the quarterback that he is," said linebacker and team captain Thomas Davis, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.

"They look at his size. It's kind of like the NBA used to allow guys to get away with that against Shaquille O'Neal because of his size. But when you dig deep down into it, they talk about player safety all the time and they need to protect that player as well."

Though Newton was not only on the receiving end of blows to the head but borderline late hits from the Broncos' defense, he refrained from criticizing head referee Gene Steratore and his staff after the game.

"It's not my job to question the officials," Newton said. "I really like this officiating crew. It wasn't something that I know they did intentionally. But it's not fun getting hit in the head. We didn't lose the game off that; I know that for a fact. We've just got to find ways to put more drives together."

Newton was never taken out of the game to be evaluated for a concussion, though after the Stewart hit, Newton remained on the turf as he tried to collect himself. There were independent neurologists on both sidelines and a spotter watching over the game for potential concussion-related injuries.

"The game was never stopped," Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said. "We never got a call to the sideline and the independent neurologist never alerted us to stop the game."