Panthers spokesman: DBs didn’t taunt Beckham with bat

The New York Giants and/or Odell Beckham’s representatives are working overtime to find someone to blame for Beckham’s actions on Sunday that got him suspended for a game.

Carolina Panthers’ Josh Norman (24) tackles New York Giants’ Odell Beckham (13) in the end zone as Beckham scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J.

While rumors swirl about what kind of suspension, if any, Beckham would get, he’s yet to respond to the controversy.

The two had been fighting for much of the Panthers 38-35 win and at that point in the afternoon Beckham was especially frustrated having not caught a pass. Ultimately he would make six catches and almost led the Giants to a stunning comeback victory, but that came after his attack on Norman. The most controversial hit was a helmet-to-helmet collision with Norman in the third quarter that appeared intentional.

There was plenty of pushing, shoving, swinging, wrestling, late hits and trash talking between them. Beckham had a game-tying touchdown pass with 1:46 left in the fourth quarter before the Panthers won on Graham Gano’s 43-yard field goal on the game’s final play.

Although he was flagged on the play, Beckham was allowed to stay in the game.

In a Monday letter to Beckham, Hanks noted, “At numerous times during yesterday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, your actions placed a fellow player at unnecessary risk…and clearly did not represent the high standards of sportsmanship expected”.

Beckham will not be permitted this week to attend team meetings and functions; attend or watch practices; appear at the club’s facilities for any reason; attend press conferences; appear at the team’s Sunday game; or have contact with any club personnel except to arrange off-site medical treatment or rehabilitation.

The suspension falls in line with other one-game bans handed down by the National Football League for on-field conduct.

He would be reinstated next Monday. “Beckham also incurred three personal foul penalties Sunday”, ESPN notes.

“He was 15 yards down the field and went straight for my head”.

“Here’s a case of a player who just has gotten so big, so fast while his team has won absolutely nothing, which is what you detest about what goes on in sports now”. Likewise, Norman called Beckham a “bitch” and a “ballerina”.