The NFL is discussing potential discipline against New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for his deliberate personal-foul confrontations during Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that a one-game suspension is likely to come down against Beckham .
During the Giants’ 38-35 loss to the Panthers at MetLife Stadium, Beckham was flagged three times for personal fouls as the competitive banter between Carolina cornerback Josh Norman and Beckham escalated to the point of multiple physical confrontations.
Beckham delivered a deliberate shot to the helmet of Norman after the play was over in one incident and they repeatedly were shoving and wrestling with each other.
On one drive, Beckham was flagged twice for unnecessary roughness and Norman also drew an unnecessary roughness penalty.
“I hope the league office gets a chance to review the film and see what they can do, because players like that don’t deserve to be in the game,” Norman said after the game. “I mean, it’s ridiculous.
“What he did is on display. You see what kind of player he is and you pull back the layers of skin and you really see what it is. Film don’t lie.”
The NFL said in a statement: “The disqualification of a player is a judgment made by the on-field officials. The actions of the players involved in unsportsmanlike conduct will be reviewed as per the standard protocol that is followed in all situations of this type throughout the season.”
After the game, Beckham said he regretted his three penalties but added that the officials usually flag the player who retaliates in most cases and that the score would still end up “35-35 in the fourth quarter” despite the penalties.
“You never want to hurt your team like that, and I have learned throughout my life, always, second man gets caught,” Beckham said. “It is just unfortunate.”
Giants coach Tom Coughlin admitted that Beckham lost his composure and he considered taking him out in the third quarter to avoid any harm when the Giants were trailing by as much as 35-7.
The Giants then mounted a 28-point comeback, including a game-tying touchdown reception by Beckham, before losing on a last-second field goal by Graham Gano.
“I’ll talk to him about it,” said Coughlin, declining to go into details. “Whatever we have to discuss, we will discuss in private.”