Cam Newton Says Ref Ed Hochuli Told Him He's 'Not Old Enough' to Draw Flag

When is a penalty not a penalty? When the player on the receiving end is deemed too young, apparently.

That's what Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton found out Sunday.

According to Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer, the play in question came during the fourth quarter of Carolina's Week 3 game against the New Orleans Saints. Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison hit Newton on the play, according to Jones, around the time the Auburn product threw the ball. Newton thought Davison's hit could be considered roughing the passer, so he looked toward the ref.

Cam, you're not old enough to get that call. That's what referee Ed Hochuli allegedly told the fifth-year quarterback.

Here's what Newton had to say about the explanation Hochuli gave him, per Jones:

"

I was really baffled by what was said to me. I was rolling out trying to string out the play and create some type of opportunity to get a completion and the defensive lineman, you know, kind of hit me. It was close. It was right on the cusp. Was it a late hit? I don't know. But the response that I got was, "Cam you're not old enough to get that call."

I’m looking at him like what? Jesus. I didn't think you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that. 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 around the same range and for that flag not to be called, it's…I'm ticked off. Really.

Just the fact that it's kind of, one, did he miss the call? If he would have said he missed the call, that's one thing. But for his response to be what it was, that I'm not old enough to get that call, geez. So heaven forbid he gets any rookies. They're going to have a long day. So, I don't know.

"

Hochuli was not available for comment after the game, but league spokesman Michael Signora issued a statement on the matter to Steve Reed of the Associated Press:

Update from Monday, Sept. 28

Hochuli could face discipline from the NFL if the league finds Newton's comments to be true, according to NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino (via Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer):

--End of Update--

The NFL has created rules in order to protect quarterbacks, so if a referee would throw a flag on a hit on a veteran like Peyton Manning, he or she should throw the flag for a younger player such as the 26-year-old Newton. A penalty is a penalty. It's as simple as that.

Like Newton said, if the referee just missed the call, you can live with that. Telling a player he's too young to get a call isn't fair, though. The league will likely look into this incident to see what happened.

Newton can just be glad that the no-call didn't decide the game. He helped his team move to 3-0 on the season by throwing for 315 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers' 27-22 win over the Saints.

[Vine; h/t CBS Sports]