ICYMI in NFL's Week 15: OBJ's antics could earn discipline
New York Giants star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was not ejected for the way he attacked Carolina Panthers star cornerback Josh Norman - launching himself head-first for a violent helmet-to-helmet smash, for example, or delivering an open-handed smack to the facemask.
And Beckham never got yanked from the game by his coach, Tom Coughlin, who did acknowledge giving that ''strong consideration.''
Now it's up to the NFL to decide whether Beckham needs to take a seat.
The league will review all of the WWE-style shenanigans, including what really did look like wrestling moves, that went on between Beckham and Norman during unbeaten Carolina's 38-35 victory over New York on Sunday.
''He did lose his composure,'' Coughlin said about Beckham.
Norman's assessment?
''He's got the maturity of a little kid,'' Norman said.
Beckham drew three penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct but never was ushered off the field. That meant he was still in the game with less than 2 minutes left, when he caught the tying TD pass capping the Giants' rally from a 28-point deficit; the Panthers wound up winning on a final-play field goal to improve to 14-0.
''I hope the league offices get a chance to review the film and see what they can do, because players like that don't deserve to be in the game,'' Norman said. ''I mean, it's ridiculous.''
In case you missed it, here are the other top topics after the NFL season's 15th Sunday:
WILSON TO BALDWIN: For all the traits considered key to the Seattle Seahawks' consecutive Super Bowl appearances, high-powered passing game was not on the list. Look at them now. In a 30-13 win over Cleveland, Russell Wilson became the first QB with at least three TD passes and zero interceptions in each of five consecutive games, and Doug Baldwin joined Jerry Rice as the only wide receivers in NFL history with 10 TDs over a four-game span in a single season. ''The efficiency of the offense,'' Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after his team clinched a playoff berth, ''is the best it's been since we've been here.''
BACKUPS GALORE: So in this season of injury after injury, and hurt QB after hurt QB, the AFC South title might very well have been determined when Brandon Weeden - playing for T.J. Yates, who was playing for Brian Hoyer - outplayed Charlie Whitehurst - playing for Matt Hasselbeck, who was playing for Andrew Luck - and led Houston past Indianapolis 16-10. ''Look, I'm not sure he has the whole offense down pat,'' Texans coach Bill O'Brien said about Weeden, ''but I think he has enough that he can go in there and function.'' Talk about a ringing endorsement. Then again, Houston should be thrilled that, at 7-7, it is in first place, no matter who's taking the snaps. ''We've been through, I don't know, maybe 45 quarterbacks in the last two years,'' defensive end J.J. Watt said, exaggerating only slightly.
MORE OFFICIATING FOLLIES: Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell is listed at 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds and yet, somehow, none of the officials in Arizona's 40-17 victory at Philadelphia at night noticed that he was standing up and trying to call timeout. The Eagles snapped the ball and got a 22-yard touchdown pass to tie the game midway through the second quarter - not that it mattered, in the end - prompting animated arguing by Cards coach Bruce Arians.
YOU LIKE IT!: That's what Redskins fans were chanting - repeating a phrase made famous by Kirk Cousins earlier this season - as their QB helped pile on the points with four TD passes and a 13-yard scoring scamper as Washington beat Buffalo 35-25 to grab control of the NFC East. ''You like that everybody's rolling with that,'' said Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson, who scored a 77-yard touchdown on a pass from Cousins. After finishing last in six of the past seven years, Washington (7-7) can claim a division title by beating host Philadelphia (6-8) next Saturday night. Other playoff particulars from Sunday: Arizona (12-2) clinched the NFC West; Green Bay (10-4), Seattle (9-5) and Cincinnati (11-3) earned berths in the postseason.
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