A Giant Debacle - Straw Grasping in NYC

[Jeremy Igo]

Fact: Odell Beckham Jr's actions on the playing field, particularly his helmet to helmet hit on Josh Norman, was about the dirtiest thing you will ever see on the football field. 

Fact: The Giants are now throwing everything they possibly can at the problem to help minimize the damage done to Beckham Jr's reputation. 

On Monday, it was a silly baseball bat excuse. An excuse that was mostly laughed at nationally. As if anyone believed for a second OBJ felt threatened by a bat on the sidelines. 

If he was threatened by it, he made no mention of it in the post game interviews. It only came up well after he was caught, dead to rights, spearing Josh Norman in the helmet while Norman was not looking. This move earned OBJ a one game suspension, but should have been more. 

Now it is Tuesday, and the Giants are aware the silly bat excuse didn't stick. They need a new reason why the face of their franchise and their number 1 selling jersey would do such a thing. 

A-Ha! Odell Beckham Jr was called mean names during the game. Names that referred to his sexual orientation. That is why he threw punches. That is why he tried to injure Josh Norman by spearing him in the head. He was bullied! That's the ticket! Lets get on this anti-bullying campaign train and ride this thing out. 

The problem here is that every week in every game, names are being called. I have been on the sidelines for nearly a hundred times now, and I don't even notice anymore. It is part of the game in any professional sport. Get in the head of your opponent. Take him out of the game mentally. 

I don't know if names were called in OBJ's direction. Heck, I would be shocked if they weren't. I would be shocked if the Giants didn't yell names and expletives as as well. I would be shocked if this didn't happen on any given Sunday on any football field across the nation. 

But I do know one thing, I have never seen it used as an excuse, before now, to intentionally try to injure another player. 

If Odell Beckham Jr felt so torn over the alleged names called, would he have hugged multiple Panthers defensive players after the game? Shaq Thompson, Roman Harper, Luke Keuchly to name a few. Would he have snuck in a pinch on Cam Newton's rear during Newton's on camera interview after the game, trying to get a reaction from Newton? I was standing behind Newton and witnessed it myself and thought nothing of it. Last week Mike Tolbert smacked Cam Newton's rear during an interview and got a hilarious reaction. No big deal. 

These actions don't sound like those of a man supremely offended by what was said on the playing field. They sound like business as usual. Things are said on the field, and after the game everyone understands that what is said on the field is business. 

So here is the bottom line....

In their attempt to skirt blame and redirect negativity, Odell Beckham Jr and the Giants organization set an even worse example to their fans and continue to make this a national news story. 

The right move would have been to accept responsibility, accept punishment, and apologize gracefully so that we could all move on to next Sunday. 

THAT would have been the right way to minimize the damage done to OBJ's image. People are always willing to forgive someone who is honest and sincere. 

Clearly, Odell Beckham Jr is neither of these things. 

 

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[AviationMX]

Oh no, you didn't say "skirt" did you? 

:)

[Cj72]

With the way this is going all I know is I'm damn glad Josh Norman isn't white.

 

 

Or Beckham for that matter because I would hate to see that spin

Edited December 22, 2015 by Cj72

[NYPantherFan]

In before the "Beckham Jr. Showed class post-game, fraternizing with members of the Panthers defense rather than running straight to the lockers"

[countryboi]

OBJ is the type of person that has everything go his way. he just did things that he always does but this time america didnt like what they saw and it blew up in his face. he is the same spoil talented egotistical jackass he has always been 

[Cary Kollins]

What has transpired the past 24 hours has been an utter embarrassment to the entire Giants organization. From enabling Beckham during the game, to excuse after excuse after the game. Really is unprecedented and dispicable. 

[shaka]

Well said. I wish this post would go viral like that Tennessee mom's letter. 

 

Sums up the situation perfectly. 

[KillerKat]

He really pinched Cam's ass? lmao

[d-dave]

Enabling... Actually Beckham is showing all the signs of a spoiled brat... C'mon Giants! 

Edited December 22, 2015 by d-dave

[O-Ther]

With Beckham's past history with the Rams in 2014 and the Bills in October this season, the suspension should have been 2-6 games. Josh is right. Odell is Two-face. Wrote a blog about this

Edited December 22, 2015 by O-Ther

[ThPantherFan]

What makes it worse, in my opinion, is coughlin didn't even address the issue with OBJ.  Rivera and the other coaches, and players, laid in to Norman and said enough is enough.  Norman complied.  What the iants did was push it on.

[bLACKpANTHER]

Okay it was fun discussing the event on Monday- now we gotta focus on ATL.. they are gunna be fired up after the beatdown we gave them last week.. can't lose sight of HFA and the other teams we will be facing in the playoffs.. not this bunch of losers..

Onward and Upward!

[cbarrier90]

The fact that the Facebook comments on the ESPN spin article from the NY writer see right through these excuses tells you everything you need to know. 

[TheRed]

Quality write up Jeremy. Completely agree.

Unfortunately, at this point, continuing on with this charade is only enabling the guy even more, giving him more attention that he seemingly craves.

So uh, how about the Falcons...?

Edited December 22, 2015 by TheRed