No-call on Cam Newton hit isn't as obvious as it appears

In the complex labyrinth of NFL rules, contact to the head of a sliding quarterback is not necessarily a penalty.

That's the upshot after a sober, morning-after analysis of a hotly disputed decision Monday night at FedEx Field. Referee Walt Coleman declined to penalize a hit to the helmet of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, a no-call that was exacerbated by a taunting penalty on Newton and ultimately reignited the debate on whether Newton is treated fairly by NFL officials.

We won't resolve that argument today -- or maybe ever -- but I do think we can better understand why Newton didn't get the call in this particular situation. It begins with a point of emphasis the NFL established…