New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. received a one-game suspension Monday for multiple violations during Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers.
He scuffled and fought all game with Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, drawing three unnecessary roughness penalties, including one for launching himself helmet-first into Norman's head during the third quarter. Beckham is likely to appeal the suspension this week before the Giants travel to play the Minnesota Vikingson Sunday night, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
NFL Media analysts Nate Burleson and Maurice Jones-Drew discuss the on-field behavior Beckham and Norman displayed, along with their related personal experiences.
Nate's take ...
We saw Odell lose a grip on the rules and regulations, and he should be fined for his actions, but I don't agree with the suspension. Football is a very violent and emotional sport, so it's not surprising that these instances happen.
However, when a player maliciously leaves his feet and targets someone's legs or head, which is the bread and butter of every athlete, that's when something has to be done. That's when a player isn't just potentially ruining somebody's livelihood, but doing something that could possibly ruin someone's life.
What was surprising about Sunday's situation was that there wasn't a veteran player who pulled Odell aside to tell him to keep calm and focus. I realize most guys on the field aren't fully aware of what's happening -- focusing on their own assignments -- until they see the highlights on TV or watch film, but someone should have talked to Beckham about his actions.
At a young age, it is sometimes hard to realize when you've gone too far, because you truly don't know where that line is drawn. As a rookie and second-year player in Minnesota, I found myself in scuffles and even fistfights during a game, which led to fines that I had to deal with. I'd be a hypocrite to say that I haven't lost my cool or been in those types of situations, because we've all let the competitive nature of the game take over at one point or another.
MJD's take ...
Beckham should definitely be fined for that shot because it was dirty, but he doesn't deserve a one-game suspension. How was his shot unlike Cody Wallace's helmet-to-helmet late hit on David Bruton Jr. in Sunday's Steelers-Broncos game, for which he is likely to just get fined? These dirty or late hits happen weekly, and being a high-profile face in the NFL hurt Beckham in this case.
With all of the talk surrounding this incident, people are trying to portray these two young men -- and Norman isn't getting as much flak for his role in it all -- as bad people, but they're football players competing at a high level. Making the league safer and protecting players is great, but at the game's nature, it's very physical and violent. They're trying to eliminate these plays, but they'll never be able to.
I got into it with opponents simply because I didn't take nonsense from people. I didn't tolerate late or dirty hits, but it's part of the game and that's how guys are going to be. When those things happen, you have to understand the situation and continue with your assignment. I learned to handle the competitiveness as I got older -- as most guys do -- and I was lucky enough to be on a team with Fred Taylor and Greg Jones, who set the example.
The competitive nature of the game is one reason that people love to watch football. It's great that the league is making the game safer and trying to protect players, but that doesn't change the fact that these types of hits and fights will happen when alpha dogs are battling for a victory. It's part of the game.
Follow Nate Burleson on Twitter @Nate13Burleson.
Follow Maurice Jones-Drew on Twitter _@JonesDrew32_.
