Cam Newton wasn't happy with a helmet-to-helmet hit during Monday night's game against the Washington Redskins, but regrets his reaction after the play, which drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Newton was scrambling on his way out of bounds when he was hit by Washington's Trent Murphy. Newton shot up and tossed the ball at Murphy as the quarterback walked away to draw the penalty.

"I've got to be better than that," Newton said. "That just can't happen on my part. I just have to let the referees do their job, and obviously, it was a questionable hit, but I can't throw the ball at a person. That's against the rules too."