CHARLOTTE Greg Van Roten Color Rush Jersey , N.C. (AP) for their handling of Cam Newton’s injury during a playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 7. The NFL and the Players Association announced Wednesday that Carolina’s medical staff correctly followed concussion protocol guidelines. The league released a statement Wednesday saying it reviewed game footage and medical reports, as well as statements and interviews with Newton and coach Ron Rivera, before making its determination that ”there was no protocol violation.” After walking off the field with a second-half eye injury, Newton stumbled to the ground near the sideline when asked by trainers to take a knee. The league said they believe that stumble was caused by a previous knee injury. The NFL said the league’s 2015 MVP had an MRI on Jan. 8 that ”confirmed ligament and cartilage damage and very extensive swelling in the knee.” Panthers interim general manager Marty Hurney told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Newton will not need surgery on the knee. Newton sat out one play, but returned on the next offensive series and finished the game. Hurney said on Jan. 8 that Newton intentionally took a knee because he was told to by the team’s training staff so Carolina could get an official timeout, thus allowing backup quarterback Derek Anderson a little more time to warm up on the sideline. Anderson came in for one third-down play and threw an incompletion. ”He took a hit,” Hurney said of Newton. ”But when he walked off and he told the trainers he got poked in the eye, then they did take him into the tent and checked him for a concussion, which he did not have. And it was really getting poked in the eye.” Up for debate in the investigation was whether Newton should have been taken to the locker room for evaluations. The league and the players union changed its concussion protocol in December after Texans quarterback Tom Savage returned to the field after having a concussion that left the quarterback’s hands shaking following a hit. The changes to the protocol include the requirement of a locker room concussion evaluation for all players ”demonstrating gross or sustained vertical instability (e.g., stumbling or falling to the ground when trying to stand.)” Newton did not visit the locker room. Newton said after the team’s loss to the Saints that ”it wasn’t my head. It was my eye. My helmet had come down low enough over my eyelid and it got pressed by the player’s stomach.” ”Our review of all of the facts do not support a claim of inappropriate medical care,” the NFL Players Association said in a statement. ”Mr. Newton was immediately evaluated for a concussion and cleared by the team physician and unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant.” The Seattle Seahawks were fined $100 https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com ,000 in Week 10 after the league and union determined they failed to apply the concussion protocol properly after quarterback Russell Wilson took a blow to the head against the Arizona Cardinals. — Welcome back to the 2018 edition of Step UP or Step OUT, a series on CSR that is intended to look at players who are playing well and highlight a few that need to step their game up. Think of it as a heat index for the Carolina Panthers; guys who are playing well are stepping up and those who aren’t need to improve their game or. . . step out.This week we’ll look at some guys that nearly willed us to victory in the stinker against Washington. The others mentioned, need to play better or maybe just step out of the way and let someone else take over.Steppin’ UPJames BradberryHeat Rating: Nachos with a hefty helping of hot queso covering themIn year three, it really appears that James Bradberry has taken a turn for the better and is developing into a solid starting corner for the team. I wouldn’t say he is particularly opportunistic from a turnover perspective, nor is he a “shutdown” guy, but to date he has done a fine job covering most of the people he’s been assigned to in this more man-based coverage scheme. Particularly on Sunday, he was on his guys like glue, breaking up passes and nearly notching an interception. Hopefully this will continue for the rest of the season.Devin FunchessHeat Rating: The hood of your black car in the bright Charlotte sunlightQuentin Dunbar, you sir, got Mossed by Devin Funchess.Criticized at times for unsure hands or not muscling up on a tough catch that should be easy for him, every once in a while Devin Funchess will flash some ability that makes you realize why the Carolina Panthers think highly of their fourth year player. On Sunday Carolina Panthers Customized Jerseys , he made what was easily the catch of the day along with his typical 70 yards receiving. Particularly, it seems like he and Cam Newton have developed a nice chemistry, which should lead to more red zone targets in the future.Thomas DavisHeat Rating: A thermite grenade ready to explodeWhile it wasn’t all perfect in the Mayor of Charlotte’s first day back, he certainly played with the intensity we’ve come to expect of him. Davis made several key plays in coverage, and while his tackling and gap discipline weren’t all there, it was good to see number 58 back on the field. Going forward, he’ll probably be looking to avenge his first game back being a loss, and the Philadelphia Eagles don’t have any Adrian Peterson types on the roster.Steppin’ OUTD.J. MooreCold Rating: Gas station sushi that you rationalize eating because you saw the clerk set it outOn the one hand, you don’t want to discourage a player like D.J. Moore from trying to make things happen. His strength truly is what he can do with the ball in his hands, whether that is fielding a punt, catching a pass Carolina Panthers T-Shirts , or on a designed run. In order to make that a boon for his NFL career, you have to preach ball security. On his punt return, he held that thing out like a loaf of bread ready for the wolves to snatch it, and they happily obliged. On the reception, it was more of an excellent play by Josh Norman than the fault of the rookie, but credit to the coaches for keeping him in the game and rebuilding his confidence. He ended up with a decent day as a receiver, just clean up the mistakes rook!Chris ClarkCold Rating: When your friend leaves the sliding glass door open in winterChris Clark has done a very commendable job filling in for the Panthers at left tackle after starting the season without a team at all. That said, the jury is still very much out on whether the Panthers should keep him at left tackle when Kalil is ready to go. Right now, I would say that the line is geling, and you’d hate to break up the party. On the other hand, and throw fruit at me if you want https://www.carolinapanthersfanshop.com/hats , I think there is a reasonable case that Matt Kalil would be the better player. Clark allowed an alarming five pressures on Sunday, even with help from running backs or tight ends, including two on the crucial final drive.Ron RiveraCold Rating: Ice cream tossed in liquid nitrogen, then forgotten about.The Panthers had an entire three quarters to dig themselves out of the hole created by their turnovers, but yet, Ron Rivera continued to allow the team to play as if they were nursing a lead. Walker addressed it perfectly in his Monday Morning Optimist column, but it merits noting here again. The coaching was gutless. The play calling was ultra conservative. Too many talented playmakers saw very little in the way of game action. Overall, no one is really happy with the team right now, and the icing on the cake is not trusting your cyborg quarterback to get a half yard for you on fourth down at midfield. The natives are restless, and the new sheriff (David Tepper) might be inclined to go in a more aggressive direction.