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Cam Newton
The New England Patriots’ Cam Newton took quite the shot on a crucial play on his team’s game-winning drive. Some called it a cheap shot, others disagreed. Watch for yourself.
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Isaiah Simmons Lights Cam Newton Up on the Sidelines, Draws Crucial Penalty
The Cardinals’ uber-athletic rookie Isaiah Simmons is making a play for Defensive Rookie of the Year and based on his skill level and unique size, he might have a Defensive Player of the Year in his future. Unfortunately for him and his team, he a crucial penalty Sunday that cost the Cardinals big time.
It came on this sideline hit as Newton dashed for a first down and was headed out of bounds to stop the clock.
What a hit by Isaiah Simmons on Cam Newton. Helmet contact.
Obviously drew a flag.pic.twitter.com/zW4TN9y1c0
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 29, 2020
Cardinals’ Side Reaction
As you might expect, several with a strong Cardinals interest (fans, players, etc.) thought the personal foul penalty was unjust.
Zane Gonzalez loses 2 games, Ref’s with an absolutely atrocious penalty on Isaiah Simmons and the Drake first half touchdown game balls for the Ref’s
— Roll Tide Roll!🐘 (@YouknowMeMan1) November 29, 2020
Even Dean Blandino, the Fox officiating expert, said the call was incorrect.
“Here’s the bottom line, it’s not a foul… It’s just a good, hard, legal hit.”@DeanBlandino breaks down the unnecessary roughness penalty called on Isaiah Simmons for the hit on Cam Newton. pic.twitter.com/VHSqCW5A3M
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 29, 2020
The sarcasm is real with this one.
Isaiah Simmons has to know you can’t tackle a quarterback in this league.
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) November 29, 2020
That call.on Isaiah Simmons was total bullshit.
— Kris MC (@3LeggedCat70) November 30, 2020
Patriots’ Side Reaction
Patriots players called the hit cheap, and they responded on the field by trying to go after the Cardinals rookie. Simmons seemed unfazed by those actions but was more distraught because he understood his penalty put the Patriots in field-goal range.
Jermaine Eluemunor on the Cam Newton hit: “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.’ “
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) November 29, 2020
“We definitely won’t let guys take cheap shots on (our) quarterback.”
The Patriots took offense to the game-altering hit Isaiah Simmons laid on Cam Newton. https://t.co/2CfGuUsFRH pic.twitter.com/epCmkXuyUB
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) November 29, 2020
New England came through for their quarterback and made it clear what they thought about the hit that effectively led to their big victory in a must-win situation.
The Bottom Line
Newton was inbounds when the hit occurred. However, you can make the argument that the tackle was a helmet-to-helmet hit. Simmons put the crown of his helmet right into Newton’s jaw, and that seemed pretty obvious, though many people failed to point that out.
The other thing that isn’t exactly being stressed enough is Simmons’ failure to recognize the moment. Newton was clearly running out of bounds and giving himself up. The risk-reward in that situation just didn’t favor Simmons delivering that hit.
You have to ask yourself, what’s the best thing that can happen if Simmons executes that tackle and isn’t flagged? What, he sends a message to Newton about running? In the fourth quarter? That seems pretty silly and shortsighted.
It’s more likely you get flagged for a late hit or a personal foul of some sort, which is what happened. In that situation, with the Patriots trying to get into field-goal range, and struggling to move the ball all game, the last thing you want to do as a defender is make a risky decision that boosts a struggling unit on the other sidelines.
Simmons did the robotic-football-guy thing, delivered a big hit that appeared to knock Newton cold momentarily, got flagged and his team ultimately lost after Nick Folk drained another game-winner. Simmons will be a great player, but he’ll live and he’ll learn.
