Rams DE William Hayes: Cam Newton needs to slide faster

Rams DE William Hayes: Cam Newton needs to slide faster

Alden Gonzalez

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams defensive end William Hayes has some advice for Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who has grown frustrated by absorbing an inordinate amount of late hits that do not get flagged.

Said Hayes: "Tell him to slide a little bit faster."

The Rams will be Newton's next opponent, hosting him from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a Week 9 matchup at 1:05 p.m. PT this Sunday. It'll be a hellish challenge against a 6-foot-5, 245-pound reigning MVP who is undoubtedly the NFL's best dual-threat quarterback. But they may also have to be careful. Newton's recent comments will probably make officials more mindful about issuing unnecessary roughness penalties.


William Hayes and the Rams may have to be careful with how they try to tackle Cam Newton, who has recently complained to the NFL about taking a hefty amount of late hits this season that haven't been flagged. Icon Sportswire
"I'm not concerned about it," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said, "because there's no rule changes, and our players understand the rules."

Newton is trying to understand them for himself.

The sixth-year pro has not drawn a single accepted roughing the passer penalty since 2014, a stunning circumstance for someone who has been hit more than any other quarterback -- as a passer and as a runner -- since that 2014 season. A piece by ESPN's Matt Bowen stated that Newton has endured 59 hits inside the pocket since the start of 2015, the ninth-highest total in the NFL. But not a single roughing the passer has been implemented (one was called in the season opener this year, but it was negated by intentional grounding).

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