Giants receiver Odell Beckham complained after getting a taunting penalty in Monday night’s loss to the Vikings that no matter what he does, the officials will flag him. But Eli Manning doesn’t see it that way.
Manning said after the game that if Beckham is a target of the officials, that’s because Beckham’s own antics have made him a target. Now it’s incumbent on Beckham to change his ways so that he doesn’t do anything that can draw the ire of the officials.
“He’s got to play smart,” Manning said. “He can’t afford to do anything they’ll call. He’s kind of brought that upon himself, so he’s got to realize that . . . No doubt. Can’t afford the penalties.”
Beckham is one of the NFL’s best young players, but recently he’s been getting more attention for screwing up than for playing well. On Monday night Beckham caught only three of the nine passes Manning threw to him, gaining a career-low 23 yards. A player who costs his team 15-yard penalties while giving his team 23 yards isn’t a player who’s going to get much support from his teammates. It sounds like Beckham’s act is wearing thin with Manning.