Cam Newton: Referee said I was not old enough to receive penalty call

Cam Newton said after the Panthers win Sunday a referee told him he was not old enough to receive a roughing the passer penalty.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton said after his team’s win Sunday referee Ed Hochuli told him was “not old enough” to receive a roughing the passer call on a play during the fourth quarter. 

On the play in question, Newton was hit by New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Tyeler Davison after throwing the ball on a rollout to the right. 

“I was rolling out trying to string out the play and create some type of opportunity to get a completion and the defensive linemen, you know, kind of hit me. It was close. It was right on the cusp,” Newton said after the game, according to SB Nation. “Was it a late hit? I don't know, but the response that I got was ‘Cam, you're not old enough to get that call.’”

Newton completed 20 of 31 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ 27–22 win over the Saints. 

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“I didn't think you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that," Newton said, "You just have to be accountable. It's one thing to be frustrated in a situation where you see a personal foul on the opposing quarterback get called, and then for me when it's something and the same range and for that flag not to be called, I'm ticked off, really.

“Just the fact that it's kind of, one, did he miss the call? If he would have said he missed the call, that's one thing. But for his response to be what it was, that I'm not old enough to get that call, geez.”

The 3–0 Panthers will play the Buccaneers next week.

– Rohan Nadkarni