Beckham must sit after losing appeal
Giants star wideout will miss Sunday’s game at Minnesota.
Odell Beckham Jr. is going to have to serve his one-game suspension.
Hearing officer James Thrash onWednesday upheld the suspension for multiple violations of safety-related playing rules after hearing an appeal by the New York Giants wide receiver earlier in the day.
Beckham will miss the game Sunday night at Minnesota. The second-year Pro Bowler will be reinstated Monday.
“I owe some people an apology. I wasn’t raised to act like I did the other day,” Beckham said in a statement issued by the Giants.
“I am not here to make excuses for my conduct. This isn’t about anything that was said or done to me. This is about my behavior, and I am responsible for my behavior. People expect better from me, and I expect better from myself.”
The league suspended Beckham on Monday for his conduct last Sunday against Carolina, when he drew three personal foul penalties, including one for a diving helmet-to-helmet hit on Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.
Norman was fined $26,044 for his role in the confrontations.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin said his receiver was not the only player at fault for the rough and sometimes dirty play in the game. He referred to the Panthers’ recent tradition of carrying a baseball bat during warmups, and to comments allegedly made by Carolina players.
New York punter Brad Wing saidWednesday that Beckham was threatened by an unidentified bat-wielding man dressed in Panthers sweats during warmups.
“I’ll be the reason this will be your last game,” has Cha play
R has the rookieRBMelvi week QBDere Wing recalled the man saying to Beckham.
“The only thing I’ll say about the incident that occurred the other day in the game ... is the fact that to depict this as Odell Beckham being wrong, and the only one wrong, is not right,” Coughlin said. “It’s not fair, it’s not justice, it’s not the way it was. ... There were factors involved, starting in pregame, which are well-documented, which indicate that there was an attempt to provoke him.”
Meantime, the Giants re-signed safety Brandon Meriweather, with the status of fellow safety Cooper Taylor uncertain because of a concussion.
Coach Gary Kubiak informed the team that QB Brock Osweiler will make his sixth straight start Monday night when Denver hosts the Bengals in a critical AFC contest.
Peyton Manning hasn’t played since Nov. 15 because of a torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
Coach Sean Payton said it remains unclear whether quarterback Drew Brees will play in Sunday’s home finale against the Jaguars. Brees injured his right foot in Monday’s loss to Detroit, but never missed a snap.
Payton said Brees has had an MRI and was awaiting a second opinion from another doctor before deciding how to proceed.
Broncos:
Saints:
Brees’ backup is journeyman Matt Flynn.
Linebacker Tamba Hali broke his right thumb last Sunday in Baltimore and had surgery this week, though the Pro Bowl selection has not been ruled out against Cleveland. The Chiefs are already without All-Pro pass rusher Justin Houston (knee).
Quarterback Brian Hoyer returned to practice on a limited basis but remains under the NFL concussion protocol. Hoyer’s status is in doubt for Sunday’s game against the Titans. Backup T.J. Yates suffered a torn ACL in his left knee against the Colts last Sunday, putting third-stringer Brandon Weeden at the helm.
Placed wide receiver Andrew Hawkins on injured reserve with a concussion and promoted linebacker Jayson DiManche from the practice squad.
Chiefs:
Texans:
Browns:
Bengals:
Tight end Tyler Eifert remains in concussion protocol and may miss Monday night’s game at Denver. NFL Media reported Eifert will not play, but the Bengals have not ruled out the Pro Bowl tight end.
Placed Pro Bowl safety Tyrann Mathieu (knee) on injured reserve and re-signed safety Chris Clemons, who played in Arizona’s first five games.
Cardinals:
Nogames scheduled
Calgary tied a franchise recordwith its 10th straight victory athomeinTuesday’s 4-1win over theJets.
Washington enters its holidaybreakwith six straight wins. The Capitals have not lost consecutive games since last season, whentheydropped two straight onMarch 11and 13. Also, AlexOvechkin is eight goals shyofbecoming the 43rdplayer— and first born in Russia— to score 500.