After a controversial exchange with the NFL’s most famous referee, Cam Newton reiterated Wednesday that he feels he isn’t given enough protection from the league’s officials.

Newton was irate that he did not draw a late hit penalty on Tyeler Davison, and spoke to referee Ed Hochuli on the field after the play. Following the Panthers’ win over the Saints Sunday, Newton said that Hochuli told him “you’re not old enough to get that call.”

In response, Hochuli was adamant that he didn’t say that, and said he told the quarterback “you were running.” NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino backed Hochuli’s version of the events, and the video evidence seems to indicate that Hochuli did say “you were running.” Blandino said Wednesday that the NFL does not have audio of the exchange.

Newton addressed the situation in a press conference, and asked a reporter if he expected Hochuli to do anything other than deny Newton’s claim.

Newton admitted that he will naturally get hit more often because he’s such a mobile quarterback, but said that he “should never have to question my safety” on the field.

Via NFL.com:

“Whatever play is being held, I should never have to question my safety. That’s the big thing you have to get from it. Where I’m out there and I do not believe that another person has my best interest, so I can get hit all day and if the flag is not called, then shame on whoever. I just wanted to bring that to everybody’s attention that, yeah, I may run, you know. Statistics say Cam gets hit more than any other quarterback. Yeah, because I do a lot of running. Yet if it’s a late hit, if I’m sliding, I don’t want to get hit.”

Mike McCarn/AP