Two days after Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton complained he doesn’t feel protected by refs on the field, ESPN is reporting the NFL has concluded officials should have thrown a flag on the Arizona Cardinals for a late hit on Newton.

The play Newton complained about – and the NFL admitted should have been flagged – was a low hit from Cardinals’ defensive lineman Calais Campbell on Newton while the Panthers QB was in the pocket.

Both Newton and Panthers head coach Ron Rivera have said they planned on talking to commissioner Roger Goodell about the issue, with ESPN reporting Goodell already having talked to Rivera and promising to do the same with Newton.

Opponents have been flagged just once for roughing the passer violations on Newton this year, despite the former MVP being hit a league-high 212 times this year. It has been hotly debated in recent days whether Newton is treated differently than other QBs around the league by refs.