New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. was less than happy with Sunday's officiating crew, going as far as to say that they should not be assigned to call any more Giants games in the future. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
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Odell Beckham Jr. wasn't very happy with the officiating crew assigned to the Giants-Steelers game, going so far as to suggest that the crew, led by referee Terry McAulay, not be assigned to call any more Giants games in the future.
Beckham's ire was primarily directed at one official, whom he wouldn't name, who told him to "get out of my face" after Beckham tried to get an explanation for his offensive pass interference penalty called in the first quarter of the Giants loss to the Steelers.
"It was a horrible call, in my opinion," said Beckham, who caught 10 of 16 pass targets for 100 yards and no touchdowns. "I don't understand how I'm running down the field on a 'go' route and someone tries to stop my progress, but I can't put my hands on them."
Beckham, who at no point during his postgame "rant" raised his voice or spoke in an angered tone, said his attempt to gain clarity on what happened wasn't well-received.
"I went up and asked him what was going on, what was the flag, and he said, 'Get out my face,'" Beckham said. "I haven't really heard that (before). I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. I'm trying to just play football the way I love playing football, and it's hard. It almost feels like a disrespect thing.
"I'm trying to figure out what I did wrong so I don't do it again, and you're going to sit there and tell me, 'Get out my face?' I don't really understand that."
Because of that plus history with that crew, Beckham has a simple request of the league.
"I don't really think we should have this crew anymore when the Giants are playing with the history and everything that's going on," Beckham said, referencing the afore mentioned games. "Just put two-and-two together. It shouldn't be that hard for you."
The history that Beckham is referencing began with last year's Giants-Panthers game in which McAulay's crew threw multiple flags on Beckham and then-Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, who were both engaging in extracurricular activities outside of the rules.
In Week 3 of this year, McAulay's crew, minus the referee, who was ill, also worked the Giants Week 3 game against Washington, with whom Norman is now a member. That game saw Beckham have another one of his sideline blowups, this one coming at the expense of the Giants' kicking net.
Lest anyone think Beckham was blaming the officials for the Giants' loss, he made it a point to stress that wasn't the case.
"I don't want anybody to sit here and misquote me and say I'm saying the refs are the reason we lost the game, because that's clearly not the reason we lost the game," Beckham said. "The Steelers, they're a very good team, and they beat us."
