NFL stars Cam Newton, Josh Norman and Richard Sherman vent frustrations about officiating

Several star players were unhappy with the officials during Week 8 of the NFL season.

Reigning league MVP Cam Newton said Sunday he is going to take his complaint about not getting calls on late hits straight to the top.

“It’s really taking the fun out of the game for me — honestly, it really is,” the Carolina Panthers quarterback said after a 30-20 victory over Arizona. “At times, I don’t even feel safe. Enough is enough. I plan on talking to Commissioner [Roger] Goodell about this. It’s not fun, and I don’t know what I have to do.”

On Sunday, Newton took a shot to the knees from the Cardinals’ Calais Campbell after an incomplete pass.

“I could have torn an ACL,” said Newton, who has gotten just one roughing-the-passer call in the last two seasons. “That was the breaking point for me.”

Also, Washington cornerback Josh Norman singled out an official he felt did a poor job during the Redskins’ 27-27 tie with Cincinnati in London.

“Who is 88?” Norman said of field judge Brad Freeman during a postgame news conference. “He sucked. I’m just going to be honest with you. I’m going to be straightforward. He was terrible. I feel like he should be reprimanded.”

Norman drew five penalty flags, including four for for illegal hands to the face, during the game. His news conference was cut short by Redskins public relations staffers after just three questions.

Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman seemed to have some pretty legitimate beefs with the officiating during the Seahawks’ 25-20 loss to New Orleans, but that probably won’t stop him from getting fined by the league after his postgame comments.

“We played within the rules and we got called; [the Saints] played not within the rules and they didn’t get called,” Sherman said. “I’m sure to the outside world, it looked pretty obvious the way the game was officiated. I don’t think they were trying to hide anything. Some of the calls or lack thereof were pretty egregious.”

Sherman added a comment about being called for holding at a crucial point in the fourth quarter: “I think they needed a first down on a crucial drive and the refs made sure they got it.’’

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii