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New York Giants mercurial wideout Odell Beckham Jr. lashed out following his career-worst performance against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday. "I just have to understand if I sneeze the wrong way, it'll be a flag, it'll be a fine," Beckham said after being limited to just three catches for 23 yards in a 24-10 loss to the undefeated Vikings. "If I tie my shoe the wrong way, it might be a fine or a flag."
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Beckham, who has been fined six times in his two-plus seasons, has been under the microscope since his actions against then-Carolina Panthers star Josh Norman last season in a game that featured five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties between the two.
Last week, Beckham vented his frustrations by assaulting a kicking net on the sideline, prompting coach Ben McAdoo to publicly address the wideout's actions.
"(He) needs to control his emotions better and be less of a distraction to himself and his teammates," McAdoo said after the 29-27 loss to the Washington Redskins.
A former first-round pick, Beckham was quick to go on the defensive after being on the wrong end of the spotlight.
"I'm not the one who puts a camera in my face," Beckham told reporters. "I don't think many teammates knew about what happened last week, and then it all gets blown up. We live in an era of social media, so it is what it is.
"When you're at the top of your game, they're going to try to knock you off, and that's just the case."
Minnesota cornerback Xavier Rhodes got under Beckham's skin on Monday, causing the latter to bump him after being pushed out of bounds. Beckham was called for taunting after making contact with an official and was quick to be corralled by coaches and teammates after attempting to take a shot at Rhodes on the following play.
"It was just football," said Rhodes, who acknowledged to USA Today that he is aware of the NFL's new two-strike rule that has an ejection follow a player's second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
"A little trash-talking here and there. It's going to happen."
Beckham cited a perceived double standard that he receives as opposed to other players in the NFL.
"You have to protect yourself at all times," Beckham said. "I just gotta know where I'm at. I just gotta know that it's all against me.
"I have to assume that I'm always in the wrong no matter what. That's something that's a tough pill to swallow. You have to understand it, you have to be able to cope with it and just keep it moving."
Giants general manager Jerry Reese was seen talking to Beckham shortly after his postgame comments while quarterback Eli Manning warned his teammate to keep his composure.
"He has got to be aware," Manning said. "They're looking for him and he has got to play smart. We can't afford to do anything. They're going to call him and he brought that on himself."
Beckham will need to do a better job of keeping his emotions in check on Sunday night as the Giants (2-2) look to snap a two-game skid versus the host Green Bay Packers (2-1).
