Pregame threats or no, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will have to watch from the sidelines Sunday night as his teammates attempt to save their season with a win over the Minnesota Vikings. Beckham, involved in skirmish after skirmish with Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman during the Giants' 38-35 loss this week, has been suspended one game by the NFL as a result.
"At numerous times during yesterday's game against the Carolina Panthers, your actions placed a fellow player at unnecessary risk," the league wrote in a letter to Beckham, "and clearly did not represent the high standards of sportsmanship expected."
Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Beckham will appeal, with the result expected sometime around midweek.
Beckham will appeal suspension. Process will be expedited a final decision should come by midweek
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 21, 2015
It was reported early Monday that Beckham, who wound up being flagged for three separate unnecessary roughness penalties during the game against Carolina, was facing at least a fine and perhaps a suspension as well. The image of Beckham launching himself headfirst into Norman at the tail end of a Shane Vereen run is likely etched into the minds of most NFL fans at this point.
For the notoriously hot-headed Beckham, it's possible it'll serve as a sort of wakeup call that he needs to keep his passions in check and play to the whistle.
For the Giants, it's a potentially costly loss at a time when their playoff hopes are already on life support. At this point, New York needs to win their final two games against the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles, and hope that the Eagles win this coming week against the Washington Redskins.
And for the league, Beckham's suspension is likely meant as something of an example for offensive players that they can't get away with whatever they want.
