Steelers' Gilbert to Newton: If you're scared of hits, don't play

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert has a message for Cam Newton: If my quarterback can do it, so can you - now quit your whining.

After Sunday's game, the Carolina Panthers quarterback lamented the lack of calls he's gotten for questionable hits, saying he doesn't feel safe on the field. Gilbert has seen his quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, take hit after hit without complaint over the years, and wants Newton to do the same.

"Ben gets hit more than anybody in the league, and he never complains. C'mon, man. This is the game of football," Gilbert said, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "If you're out there and you're scared to take a shot, then don't be out there, especially if you're a running quarterback. (Defenses) are going to take shots at you. Just the way, his style of playing football, how he celebrates, I guess he gives the guys a chip, like let's go hit the reigning NFL MVP."

Gilbert said he thinks Newton puts defenders in a difficult position as well, as they're forced to stop a 6-foot-5, 245-pound freight train running down the field. Newton has complained that he isn't getting the calls he wants in or out of the pocket, but Gilbert says that if he wants to take less hits, he should also talk to his coaches.

"If you don't like it, then tell the coach or the coordinator to change the whole game plan," he said. "Try to do something to protect you, because back a couple of years ago, when Ben was getting hit a lot, we had to change our offense a little bit, put in a little extra protection to help him stay upright because he is the franchise player."