NEW ORLEANS -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was allowed to stay on the field for three plays to finish a touchdown drive before being tested for a concussion after taking a hard hit during his team's 41-38 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
It happened in the wake of the NFL and NFLPA's recent conference calls with teams and players to prevent another situation such as the one that allowed St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum to continue playing after suffering a concussion.
Newton ultimately was tested in the locker room and cleared after taking a hit from linebacker Michael Mauti while trying to score in the third quarter. He did not miss a snap in the victory and threw five touchdown passes as the Panthers improved to 12-0.
An NFL spokesman said Monday that Newton was evaluated under the concussion protocol and it was determined that the quarterback did not have a concussion.
Coach Ron Rivera said Newton was observed by the officials on the sideline during a timeout after the hit. Newton said the referee did an "unbelievable job of making sure I was all right."
"Numerous times, he asked me to look him in his eye to see if I was focused," he said. "I've been keeping track of the NFL, especially guys that have been having concussions. I know the situation that happened in St. Louis. Hear me when I say I did not have a concussion. I'm firm in that."
Newton was checked by the league's independent physician in the locker room instead of on the field because he had to go to the bathroom after completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. to give Carolina a 20-16 lead.
Dr. Robert Heyer, Carolina's team doctor, said it was determined there was no reason to pull Newton to be checked. Rivera said Newton was laughing and throwing passes on the sideline and being observed by team trainer Ryan Vermillion during the timeout after the hit.
"Then, when he came to the sideline, the independent [physician] had observed it, and he thought Dr. Heyer should talk to him," Rivera said. "He went to talk to him."
That's when Newton asked if he could be checked in the locker room after he went to the bathroom.
Newton said he deserved to get hit that hard because he "let my foot off the gas" when he got close to the corner pylon. He said he was shocked to see Mauti come up on him so fast.
"When I pulled up, I saw him at the last minute, and I took a shot," Newton said. "There was probably a lot of people that wanted to see that happen. I'm going to talk to my father tonight, and he's probably going to tell me what I already expect: I deserved it.
"Playing this game, you have to finish. That's what Coach harps on each and every day, and I didn't do that right there, and I deserved it."