NFL: Should Josh Norman Be Suspended Like Odell Beckham?
Unless you live under a rock, you've probably already heard the big news by now. New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham has been handed a one game suspension because of his actions against Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman. The two went at it all game long as the Panthers eventually won the game, 38-35 to stay undefeated.
While it's pretty hard to defend Beckham's actions and the leagues decision to suspend him, there is one more question that should be answered: Why hasn't Norman been suspended also? Not only has Norman not been suspended for his inexcusable actions, he hasn't even been fined by the Panthers or the league.
On the fifth play of the game (the play after Beckham dropped a sure touchdown grab) Norman grabs Beckham after the whistle, picks him up, and slams him down to the ground. As Beckham is being thrown to the ground, he doesn't even retaliate. He simply puts his hands up and looks toward the official for a call. Norman literally body slammed Beckham on the opening drive of the game. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is where it all started. From that point on Beckham couldn't control his rage and anger, and he decided to just retaliate play after play as he did not catch a single ball from Eli Manning in the entire first half.
Beckham even lunged head first at Norman later in the game after one play, and was called for three unnecessary roughing penalties. Beckham and his team are appealing the suspension, but the odds of that being overturned are extremely unlikely.
But let's get back to Norman. How he was able to escape from the claws of football justice is unbelievable. Norman was the one who started all of this. As John Rambo once said, "they drew first blood, not me." Let's also keep in mind that Norman is a repeat offender. In August Norman was involved in a fight with quarterback Cam Newton. In Week 1, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Norman admitted to eye gauging wide receiver Allen Hurns. And of all of this equates to what for Norman? Zero games and zero dollars taken away.
It's hard to believe the NFL Players Association truly believes in player safety when Norman isn't penalized at all for his actions against other players.
The bigger story here isn't so much Beckham or Norman. It's the fact that the game officials failed to get a hold of these immature players when it mattered most. Throwing flags play after play only goes so far. The true way to send a message is to eject players when it starts to get out of hand. When Norman started it all by body slamming Beckham, the refs should have made it loud and clear: One more act like that, and you're both out.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1