After watching Ben Roethlisberger take dozens of hits week after week, Steelers offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert doesn't have much empathy for Cam Newton, who used his postgame press conference Sunday to express his dismay with the way his games are being officiated.
After Carolina's 30-20 win over the Cardinals, Newton said that he doesn't feel safe and that he's not having fun anymore due to all the hits he's taking, and the fact that opposing players aren't being penalized for them.
"It's not fun. It's really taking the fun out of the game for me," Newton said. "Honestly, it really is. At times, I don't even feel safe. Enough is enough. I plan on talking to commissioner Goodell about this. It's not fun. And I don't know what I have to do."
Gilbert said Newton should be more like Roethlisberger, and not complain.
"Ben gets hit more than anybody in the league and he never complains. C'mon man. This is the game of football," Gilbert said, via ESPN.com.
Gilbert's advice to Newton: If you don't want to get hit, then don't play football.
"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," Gilbert said. "[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."
The Steelers offensive lineman also added that defensive players seem to be out to get Newton because of the way he sometimes celebrates after a big play.
"When he's running over people, he's going to stand right up and he's going to celebrate," Gilbert said. "This is the game of football. I'm sure there are cornerbacks or linebackers, whoever he's running over, the safeties, they aren't complaining about getting run over or getting crowned, facemask to facemask with the quarterback from a guy his size. Of course, guys are going to take shots. ... I don't think anybody is trying to purposefully hurt him, but you're going to get those extra hits, especially against such a great player."
If Newton wants to get hit less, then Gilbert says he should go talk to the Panthers' coaching staff.
"If you don't like it, then tell the coach or the coordinator to change the whole game plan," Gilbert 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."
If Newton does takes his complaints to Goodell, there's a chance they won't go anywhere. Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that the NFL has been tracking missed roughing the passer calls since 2013, and Newton's not even in the top-10 for missed calls.
