NFL doesn’t have audio of Cam Newton-Ed Hochuli exchange
NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said Wednesday that the NFL does not have audio of an exchange between Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and official Ed Hochuli and will not be looking into the matter any further.
Newton said after his team’s 27–22 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday that Hochuli told him he was “not old enough” to receive a roughing the passer call on a play during the fourth quarter.
On an episode of “Official Review” on NFL.com, Blandino discussed a conversation he had with Hochuli after the incident. Hochuli denies Newton's claim, insisting that he instead said, “you didn't get the call because you were running.”
During the play, Newton was running outside of the pocket near his own goal line and was taken down by a defensive lineman after throwing the pass.
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After the game, Newton was vocally upset about the incident.
“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.”
The 3–0 Panthers will play the Buccaneers on Sunday.
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