VP of officiating to Newton: If you want more protection, stay in the pocket

After Cam Newton spoke with commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday about the hits he's been taking this season, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino made the league's stance public.

Addressing the hits taken by Newton among other quarterbacks this season on NFL Network Tuesday, Blandino admitted that officials missed a call on the Carolina Panthers quarterback this Sunday when he was hit in the knee area. Blandino explained that Newton's points have some validity, but only when he plays as a traditional pocket passer.

"I think it's the posture that's going to dictate the attention and we want our referees to be as consistent as possible," said Blandino. "Quarterbacks have to understand that you get more protection in the pocket in the passing posture and when you leave the pocket and you're in a running posture, you're going to lose protection.

"I think that's one of the issues. When you have a quarterback that does run more often, there are more designed runs or just scrambles, you do lose protection."

Related - Report: NFL confirms Newton was victim of illegal hit vs. Cardinals

The hit they admittedly missed was from Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, who struck Newton below the knee while he was throwing a pass from the pocket.

"One (play) was a foul that we missed," Blandino said. "You can see Campbell coming up the middle and he's going to hit Cam in the knee area or below. Forcible contact driving through with the shoulder - that's a foul for roughing the passer. We want our referees to call that. We'll address that with the crew going forward."

In the last two seasons, Newton has taken the most hits by any quarterback in the league and has received zero roughing the passer penalties.