If its a given that NFL officials will be criticized now and then, such bad-mouthing becomes that much more significant when some of the leagues most prominent voices -- Cam Newton, Richard Sherman, Josh Norman -- rise in unison to complain about the men in stripes.Panthers quarterback Newton, the reigning near-unanimous MVP, was fed up after having his right knee twisted on a low shot from Cardinals defensive tackle Calais Campbell in the third quarter of Carolinas 30-20 victory over Arizona in a rematch of last seasons NFC championship game.At times, I dont even feel safe. And enough is enough. I plan on talking to Commissioner (Roger) Goodell about this, Newton said. I dont know what I have to do. ... I dont think theres a person that can go through what I go through and still keep their head.His words Sunday came a couple of months after he absorbed four helmet-to-helmet hits that resulted in a grand total of zero penalty yards in a season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos.This time, Newton noted the hits to the head while also making an impassioned plea for more protection in the pocket from officials, who hed rather have make more calls than frequently explain they were sorry for not throwing a flag.I just cant keep accepting, `Oh, we missed that one or `I apologize for doing that or `I didnt see it, Newton said.Seahawks cornerback Sherman and his coach, Pete Carroll, complained about what they said were illegal pick plays used by Saints receivers as New Orleans came back to beat Seattle 25-20 .Its hard to play defense like that. Its tough to play in this league with the way games are being officiated. The rules are already skewed to the offense, but you have to fight through it and find a way to win, said Sherman, never shy about sharing his thoughts. Its obvious to the outside world how the game was officiated. ... I mean, the calls -- or lack thereof -- were pretty egregious.Another speaks-his-mind, elite cornerback, Washingtons Norman, was upset after drawing five flags -- four for illegal use of hands -- while trying to cover Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green during the teams 27-all tie in London.Norman called out field judge Brad Freeman by uniform number and said: Im just going to be honest with you; Im going to be straightforward: He was terrible. I feel like he should be reprimanded.No stranger to fines from the NFL, Norman -- and Newton and Sherman -- might be getting reprimanded this week.In case you missed it, here are the other notable topics after the NFL seasons eighth Sunday:0-16?: Only one team, the 2008 Detroit Lions, has gone 0-16, but now the Cleveland Browns are halfway there and looking capable of going a full season without winning after a 31-28 loss at home to possibly the easiest opponent left on the schedule, the QB-challenged New York Jets.KISSING YOUR SISTER: Maybe the NFL needs to reconsider its overtime rules yet again, because no one likes a tie, and for the first time since 1997, there have been two in one season -- in consecutive weeks, no less. I dont think there should be a tie. Is it a win? Is it a loss? Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker said. I dont know what it is.BRADYS BACK: So maybe a little longer offseason for Tom Brady helped him and the Patriots. Since returning from his four-game Deflategate suspension, Brady has thrown for 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions and led his team to a 4-0 record. His latest masterpiece was a 4-TD performance while beating the Buffalo Bills 41-25.RAIDERS VS. BRONCOS : Lets look ahead to next Sunday night, when there will be quite a top-of-the-AFC matchup between the Super Bowl champion Broncos and the up-and-coming Oakland Raiders, a pair of 6-2 teams who are chasing the New England Patriots (7-1) for conference supremacy. And while the Raiders set an NFL record by being called for 23 penalties for 200 yards in their 30-24 overtime victory at Tampa Bay this week, the most noteworthy numbers were those put up by Oakland QB Derek Carr: 513 yards, four TDs, zero INTs. Should be fun watching Carr, Amari Cooper and Co. work against Denvers dominant defense.---Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Calgary Flames Store . - Oakland Raiders running back Rashad Jennings was speaking to a group of local high school students earlier this week when the conversation turned to the importance of being prepared when opportunities in life arise. Wholesale Flames Jerseys . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. Calgary Flames Pro Shop . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Calgary Flames Shirts .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Riley LaChance gave Vanderbilt a second-half spark, which was just what Vanderbilt needed.The junior guard scored nine of the Commodores first 11 points in the seconds half as Vanderbilt pulled away for a 75-52 win over Norfolk State in the on-campus portion of Las Vegas Invitational on Friday night.His surge turned a nine-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage and the Spartans (2-2) never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.Riley played his best five minutes of the season to start that second half, Vanderbilt coach Bryce Drew said. He gave us a lot of energy on both ends, which kind of started on the defensive end, I thought. He really got out in transition and hit some 3s that were key for us.Matthew Fisher-Davis led Vanderbilt (2-1) with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and LaChance added 12, highlighted by three 3-pointers.I was definitely in a good rhythm and my teammates did a good job of pumping me up, and we do a good job of pumping each other up, LaChance said. I think when we made that run in the second half we had really good energy and really good togetherness.Jeff Roberson grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 11 points for the Commodores, who hit 10 of 28 from 3-point range.Norfolk State lost to a Southeastern Conference team for the second time in a week, including a 78-74 defeat at Mississippi State on Nov. 11.A lot of it was our defensive mistakes, to be honest with you, Spartans coach Robert Jones said. We left Fisher-Davis three times on rotations and he had wide-open 3s, so a lot of it was us, not them really. The overall energy wasnt how we play for whatever reason.Jonathan Wade remained hot for the Spartans with 20 points and seven rebounds. Wade scored a career-high 34 points in Tuesdays 91-55 rout of Elizabeth City State.We kind of bbeat ourselves tonight, Wade said.dddddddddddd If our energy level is not there, were not the team were capable of being. We kind of have mental lapses sometimes as a team.The Spartans made only 30 percent of their shots from the floor, hitting 18 of 60.Norfolk State led by three points before Vanderbilt went on a 10-0 run to take a 32-25 lead on LaChances 3-pointer with 3:26 left in the first half.The Commodores missed their first six shots from the floor, but hit 14 of 16 foul shots in the first 20 minutes to help them go on top 37-28 at halftime.BIG PICTURENorfolk State: The Spartans werent able to contain Fisher-Davis and LaChance, and their perimeter defense couldnt stop the Commodores 3-point shooters. Vandy hit 10 treys, Norfolk State was 2 of 11.Vanderbilt: The Commodores have found a rhythm in the past two home wins under first-year coach Bryce Drew, who spent the previous five seasons at his alma mater, Valparaiso. Vanderbilt passed the ball crisply with 16 assists, compared to two for Norfolk State.GOOD WEEKFisher-Davis has looked good in both of Vanderbilts wins this week. Hes played a complete game, Drew said. We all know how well he shoots the ball, but hes been putting the ball down on the floor a little bit and hes been passing it and on the defensive end I think hes done a much better job taking pride in defending his man.UNBALANCED SCORINGWade was the only Spartan in double figures. Alex Long, Zaynah Robinson, Micah Goss and Carrington Ward went a combined 6 for 33 from the floor.UP NEXTNorfolk State visits Butler on Monday for the second game in a 10-day road trip.Vanderbilt hosts Bucknell on Monday in the final of a three-game homestand. ' ' '