Pugh: Beckham tantrum not a Giant distraction

LEFT guard Justin Pugh defended Odell Beckham Jr. in a conference call Tuesday but reiterated coach Ben McAdoo’s Monday message that Beckham must channel his emotions on the field constructively. “I didn’t find it distracting,” Pugh said of Beckham’s sideline outburst during the Giants’ 29-27 loss to Washington on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. “But obviously I’m also out there playing. I’m not sitting, watching what’s going on the whole time. I’ve got to worry about what I have to do. Obviously he’s one of the leaders of this team. He’s an emotional guy. We just have to make sure that those emotions are driven to going out there on the field and performing. I think he knows that, he knows that for sure. He’s one of the best receivers in the league, and we need him out there on the field.”

Pugh specifically recalled how badly the Giants missed Beckham in Week 16 of last season at Minnesota — a game Beckham missed due to his suspension for the infamous Josh Norman game the week prior.

“Last year when we played Minnesota, we didn’t have him and that definitely hurt,” Pugh said. “He knows that, and he knows we need him out there.”

Heading into a Monday night road clash with the Vikings at brand new U.S. Bank Stadium, the unanswered question now is how Beckham will react to McAdoo’s critique that the third-year wide receiver must “control his emotions better” and “become less of a distraction to himself and to his teammates.”

Even Eli Manning said Sunday of Beckham’s outburst that “we just need everybody to stay calm. We don’t need to get rattled. We don’t need to get fired up.”

This was not the first time McAdoo has chided Beckham for an outburst in 2016. In the Giants’ third preseason game against the Jets Aug. 27, Beckham yelled back toward the huddle and gestured in frustration at not receiving any targets. Beckham stormed to the bench, put his head in his hands and then walked to the far end of the bench to be alone until Manning came over to talk.

VEREEN TO IR

The Giants placed Vereen on IR as he will have surgery for a triceps injury. … Giants re-signed corner Michael Hunter to take Vereen’s place on the roster with corners Eli Apple (hamstring) and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) nursing injuries. … Giants signed defensive back Doran Grant to their practice squad. The Ohio State product played in three games for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season . . . . The NFL fined Giants center Weston Richburg $12,000 for taunting, according to ESPN. Richburg is appealing the decision.