RIP to your fantasy playoffs
Yesterday’s grudgematch between Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman was just as good as the Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants game itself, but the actions that happened on the field Sunday have led the NFL to suspend the star wide receiver.
The league has announced today that Beckham Jr. will be out for one game for his antics, which included a late helmet-to-helmet hit on Norman. Odell was not ejected from the game for it, but he did receive four personal fouls when it was all said and done. The two were battling each other all day, throwing hits, pushing each other and catching cheap shots throughout the span of the game.
After the game, analysts and football fans alike argued that OBJ should have been ejected for the hit, which could have cause serious injury to the cornerback.
Odell can appeal the league’s decision this week and wait for a ruling.
The Giants are currently fighting to stay alive in the playoff hunt with the Philadelphia Eagles, who are both one game behind the Washington Redskins at the top of the NFC East. New York heads out to Minnesota to play the Vikings on Sunday, in a must-win game without their top offensive weapon and need to win out to have a chance in the division.
While the Giants can survive and ultimately still have hope, your fantasy team may not. Owners of OBJ can throw in the towel on their playoff hopes starting now.
UPDATE: After an appeal, the NFL ruled to uphold Odell Beckham Jr.’s one-game suspension for his actions against Josh Norman last Sunday. OBJ has issued an apology.
“I appealed my suspension because it is a right granted to all players under the NFL’s CBA and because I owe it to my teammates to do everything I can to be on the field this week. Regardless of the outcome of my appeal, I apologize for my actions on Sunday. I work hard to be great and accepting the Blessing of having the physical skills to play at this level brings the responsibility to conduct myself in a certain way on and off the field. Sportsmanship and respecting the game are as important as blocking, running routes and catching the football. I dropped the ball on sportsmanship on Sunday.
I apologize to my teammates, the Giants organization, and to all fans of the NFL.”
OS REWIND: Josh Norman to Odell Beckham Jr: “F*ck him. He’s a B*tch!”