A person familiar with the penalty says the NFL has fined Panthers quarterback Cam Newton $21,000 for abusive conduct toward a game official. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the league hasn't announced the fine.||||||| Newton shouted at and bumped referee Jerome Boger in the fourth quarter of Carolina's penalty-plagued 17-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. Newton apologized after the game, saying "the words that I said during the game were very disrespectful and I apologized to (Boger) during the game, but I'm going public and apologizing again. It was something in the heat of the moment." Boger said he didn't feel the bump was enough to warrant an ejection.

Newton was 18 of 29 for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception on Sunday in a win over Oakland. He also ran for a score.||||||| Newton has 14 touchdowns and three interceptions over his last eight games.

Newton went 19 of 33 for 231 yards and two touchdown in Carolina's win against San Diego on Sunday.||||||| Newton's sophomore campaign has truly been a campaign of two seasons. He compiled a 75.2 passer rating with five touchdowns and eight picks in the Panthers' first seven games, but has a 102.6 rating with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions in seven games since.

Newton was unstoppable in Sunday's 30-20 win over Atlanta, throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns to go along with another 116 and a 72-yard score on the ground.||||||| Newton become the first player with 250 yards passing, 100 yards rushing, a touchdown run and a TD pass in a game. He's been putting up monster and numbers of late - just in time for the fantasy playoffs.