Cam Newton took a hit to the head while sliding, and ended up being the one penalized

TSN.ca Staff

(ESPN)

Carolina Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton hasn't exactly been treated as a quarterback by NFL referees this season, and that trend continued on Monday night when his team took on Washington.

As Newton was sliding to the ground after a third-down scramble, a play designed to help keep quarterback's safe, Washington linebacker Trent Murphy came flying into the screen, and went helmet-to-helmet with the quarterback. A flag came flying out of the referees hand and we were all very thankful on our couches at home.

Well, it turns out the flag wasn't for the illegal hit at all, and rather called on Newton himself for tossing the ball at Murphy after being unhappy with the hit.

Cam wasn’t happy with this Trent Murphy hit, gets penalized for taunting pic.twitter.com/FiADLBvosh
— The Cauldron (ICYMI) (@CauldronICYMI) December 20, 2016

Here's another angle of the tackle...

Would've been a tough penalty b/c Murphy started his tackle before Cam started his slide, but still 100% a penalty.https://t.co/gQYbM8YlVG
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) December 20, 2016

We're not going to call Murphy out for a dirty hit, because it appears his momentum was carrying him towards Netwon before the Panthers' quarterback began to slide. But no matter what way you twist it, helmet-to-helmet contact on a sliding quarterback has to be called.

It appears ESPN rules expert and former NFL referee Gerry Austin agrees.

"That was a sliding QB and you have helmet to helmet contact. You should have had a call there." - Gerry Austin pic.twitter.com/44x2iaIYof
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 20, 2016

(H/T http://ftw.usatoday.com/)