Odell Beckham Jr. showed his true colors in Sunday’s loss to the 14-0 Carolina Panthers. Matched up against the best shutdown corner no one has heard of — Josh Norman — Beckham took cheap shot after cheap shot after cheap shot.
After the game, Beckham, by far the best wide receiver in the game, said he felt threatened because the Panthers walked out of the tunnel with a baseball bat.
That, to me, has zero merit. High schools and colleges have been walking out with sledge hammers, bats, judo sticks, you name it, they’ve done it. Though it is “against league rules” to bring foreign objects onto the field in the NFL, league officials have allowed it for years, including this year and in particularly, the Panthers.
Carolina brought bats out against Miami earlier this season and had zero issues.
Beckham started his unnecessary tactics on the game’s first play with a hard hit on a defenseless Norman, who in return threw OBJ onto the ground. No flag.
The fights continued to progress as the first half ticked on, getting more and more fierce each time. But the main concern from this hoopla was Beckham’s helmet-to-helmet shot on Norman that could have easily put the cornerback out for the game.
OBJ had three personal foul flags thrown, despite taking more than seven shots at Norman, going as far as to land swings to the face of the defender.
Beckham was suspended for one game for his actions after his appeal failed Wednesday.
While I am happy with the league’s decision to punish OBJ, I don’t feel like it was quite enough. His hit to the head was enough for me to think he shouldn’t play for the rest of the year.
The league took action on Norman as well, fining him $26,000 for a facemask foul and his part in the melee with OBJ.
Another issue that I take with what happened is the officiating. In a time where concussion protocol is at the forefront of the NFL and any other contact sport, the handling of OBJ and Norman should be addressed. Should the white hat be fined or let go? Maybe both.
Both athletes should have been ejected. Both, by league rules, should not play this week. But for the officials to allow three personal fouls on one player and not take action is absurd.
Around the world folks are calling for equal treatment of Norman as Beckham which should, by far, not be the case when it comes down to punishment.
Was Norman wrong in some ways? Probably.
But you can only take so much before you start retaliating for your own safety. I approve of the actions Norman took. Protecting your career from a senseless act of violence that OBJ embarked on was way outside the lines.
OBJ was on a pedestal that I don’t think many wideouts have ever seen before Sunday. No, he is back at the bottom with a long road to return.