CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was "ticked off" about being told he wasn't old enough to get a personal foul called after being hit out of bounds in Sunday's 27-22 victory over New Orleans.
Newton, 26, thought a penalty could have been called early in the fourth quarter when he was hit hard near the out-of-bounds marker by defensive tackle Tyeler Davison after throwing an incompletion.
When the two-time Pro Bowler asked referee Ed Hochuli about the call, Newton said he was told, "You're not old enough to get that call."
"I looked at him like: 'Jesus! I didn't think you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that,'" Newton said.
"Officials make decisions based upon the play on the field, and no other factors," NFL spokesman Michael Signora said in a statement. "On the play in question, there is no roughing the passer because the quarterback is out of the pocket and a runner, and no unnecessary roughness because the contact is not late."
That the Panthers were penalized for a late hit on 34-year-old Saints quarterback Luke McCown earlier in the game didn't help matters.
"It's one thing to be frustrated in a situation where you see a personal foul on the opposing quarterback get called," Newton said. "And then for me, when it's something around that same range and for that flag not to be called, I'm ticked off, really."
Newton capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run around the left side to go with two passing touchdowns. But he still was upset about the late hit that wasn't called.
"If he would have said he missed the call, that is one thing," Newton said. "But for his response to be what it was and I'm not old enough to get that call ... Geez!
"So heaven forbid he gets any rookies or they're gonna have a long day, man."
