NFL fines Broncos safety Darian Stewart for hit to Panthers QB Cam Newton
— -- ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos safety Darian Stewart will have to open his checkbook in the wake of the team's 21-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the season opener.
Stewart has been fined $18,231 by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Panthers quarterback? Cam Newton?that came with just under 40?seconds remaining in the game. Stewart was flagged for roughing the passer on the play, but Newton was also flagged for intention grounding on the same play, so Stewart's penalty was not enforced in the game.
Replays clearly showed the contact, but after the game, Stewart said he believed the hit was within the rules.
"I thought I got him with my shoulder too,'' Stewart said. "But he's a hard player to tackle, he's so big and when he runs he leans like a running back, coming right at you.''
Stewart is the second Broncos defensive player to be fined for hits this season as cornerback Bradley Roby was docked $24,309 for unnecessary roughness as a result of a hit on Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Duke Williams in a preseason game last month.
And more Broncos could be added to the list given the league was reviewing several hits on Newton from the opener, including contact made on other plays by Von Miller, Brandon Marshall and Roby.
Marshall said early this week he expected to be fined, and a source told ESPN's Ed Werder on Wednesday that he is expected to receive a standard fine.
"It didn't (look good), I don't want to say too much because I know they're going to fine me,'' Marshall said. "I'll be getting a letter.''
NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said Tuesday he believed one penalty had not been flagged for a hit on Newton in the game that should have been. That play is believed to be Marshall's hit.
Several members of the Panthers and Newton's father, Cecil, said that the reigning NFL MVP was treated unfairly by the officiating in the game.
The NFL and the NFL Players Association each said earlier in the week they would investigate how the concussion protocol was enacted in Newton's case to see if the quarterback was checked quickly and thoroughly enough during the game.
Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has defended his players against criticisms that the team is playing "dirty.''
"I disagree," Kubiak said Monday. "We play hard, we're going to continue to play hard.''
Said Marshall: "We're not dirty. When I think of dirty, I think of stepping on somebody's ankle at the bottom of the pile, twisting somebody around. "We just play hard, man. We hit hard. We play fast ... we play faster than any defense in the league in my opinion. Look at some of the dirty plays in the league. There's a lot of dirty players. That's not our M.O.''
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