Photo Credit: Julie Jacobson/AP
It was hyped up to be one of the best individual match-ups of the entire season and we definitely got what we asked for. New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham was in a heated battle with Panthers cornerback Josh Norman all game. Apparently, the battle started well before the game actually started.
Traditionally the Panthers run out carrying a black baseball bat and this past Sunday was no different. Now according to who you believe this is how the next part of the story went down. The Panthers say they did nothing with the bats after carrying them out of the tunnel. Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants are claiming that players including Josh Norman were pointing the bats at him and threatening him.
It was clear from the first snap that this was going to be physical between the two. These two were fired up the minute they lined up across from one another. The two were wrestling with Norman throwing Beckham to the ground within the first few minutes. It was clear the Panthers had gotten into the star receiver’s head as he was held without a catch for the first half for the first time in his career. He even dropped a perfect pass that would have easily been a touchdown to start the game.
The fighting went back and forth with the two constantly being separated by teammates. The refs finally decided to step in and warned both coaches to tell their players to knock it off. Of course, they did not and Panthers defensive back Cortland Finnegan who is no stranger to fighting on the field started to get involved. Both Norman and Beckham received flags with the refs hoping that would settle down both players.
However, it clearly did not as Beckham launched an absolutely uncalled for helmet to helmet hit on Norman that got him the suspension. It was an ugly moment for the young superstar and one I can only hope he regrets. Something did finally click in his head as Beckham was able to regain his composure and help his team come back after being down 28 points in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Cam Newton led the Panthers down the field to win on a final second field goal. He also won’t be able to keep his team’s abysmal playoff hopes alive this week as the team travels to Minnesota.
