CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera says Cam Newton should feel safer under the NFL's new rules than he did two years ago when the quarterback criticized the league for not penalizing what he considered illegal hits.
Atlanta safety Damontae Kazee was ejected in the second quarter on Sunday for unnecessary roughness after he hit a sliding Newton in the helmet at the end of a scramble.
A week earlier, Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence was penalized and later fined for hitting Newton below the knees.
"I would like to think he feels that things are in place to protect him and protect the rest of the quarterbacks,'' Carolina coach Ron Rivera said on Monday as he discussed Sunday's 31-24 loss.