I am sick of watching other teams target OBJ, trying to knock him off of his game or maybe go as far as knocking him out of the game, as was the case with the Rams. Washington had much the same approach but without the ugliness, as did Jacksonville and Tenn to a certain degree.
Of course "the catch" against Dallas put OBJ on everyone's radar and every DB wants to show their stuff against the boy wonder. But personally I am sick of watching OBJ having to take cheap shots on many plays (or having to avoid them on every play). I hope Mara goes to the NFL with game tape and asks that it be stopped, that refs do their job and equally protect all players from the dirty play like we saw yesterday.
I'm not against good strong DB play like Richard Sherman did against OBJ, I'm against the dirty play that most teams take when playing against him.
I'm getting off of my soapbox now.
I hope he doesn't change a thing
Me too...I hope not. But I'm sure this is going to continue to bother the "purists" among us.
I am completely beside myself with gratitude that he wound up a NY Giant
Watkins, Evans, Martin,the other kid, whatever...Beckham was the best player of the 2014 NFL draft and is going to dominate the league for the next 10 years
It's not like this is anything new in sports. And besides, I really don't think he "showboats" as much as people are suggesting anyway.
Everybody is watching them;no need for excess.
The list of great players who talked lots of trash and tried to embarrass the competition is really long.
The most driven players usually need that edge to be hyper competitive and focused on being the best.
The list of great players who talked lots of trash and tried to embarrass the competition is really long.
The most driven players usually need that edge to be hyper competitive and focused on being the best.
The crusty old farts on their couches wouldn't understand this.
Being "targeted" is something OBJ has to deal with, at least until teams have to worry about another threat... hopefully when Cruz is back
This. Being near Phoenix now I've watched him all season. I never realized what a class act he is. Doesn't complain about the QB situation here sucking half the year or about them downgrading his role for Floyd. Came back early from a knee injury to not miss a game. Tough as nails, catches the ball in traffic, just gets up and walks away. Gonna we a tough decision here whether they re-sign him. Jr couldn't have a better role model.
Not every athlete, and not every person, is that guy, or can be that guy while also being great. Some players need to feel like they have something to prove every game to get up and give 100%. Some guys need to feel like the rest of the world is chasing them to be able to be the best.
Plenty of all time greats have also been fiery, demonstrative, or down right miserable guys.
- The penalty was thrown on him not for spinning the ball and the dance, he's done that more or less every time he scored. The penalty was thrown because he spun the ball at/near the feet of McDonald Jr. as he came over and the ref interpreted that as taunting. If he was by himself and did it, there wouldn't have been a penalty. Go back and watch the replay and you'll see it. However, clearly this is on Coughlin's radar either way to tone it down. Beckham doesn't need his dance to get our attention anymore.
- The NFL should absolutely look into what the Rams did during the game. Gregg Williams is already on a short leash. Fisher has a history of this crap. And, bottom line, let's be realistic, it's not good from the NFL brand/marketing to see a young superstar playing in the NY market get shots taken at him. Remember, money, above all else matters to the NFL. Player safety is lip service due to the lawsuits. Don't kid yourselves. If other teams see the Rams get away with this, you don't think others will do the same? I'd say Philly would do it this weekend, but I think they've packed it in for the year and the Giants are going to kick dirt on them on Sunday.
Great post Matt as usual. I'm not sure how one can separate deliberate attempts to injure a player vs "legitimate" attempts to intimidate a player - especially a WR - so that he is forced "to play with his head on a swivel." Having sid that, the missed missile TJ McDonald launched that ended up injuring his own teammate, Gaines, was as blatant an attempted foul (under today's rules re launching and "defenseless players" as I have ever seen going back to the days of Lester Hayes. And the proof is that McDonald, well off his feet, could not in the least pull up or redirect himself when OBJ adroitly side stepped him. Even without hitting his target, the intent to wallop "a defenseless player" was obvious and McDonald should receive at least a fine and maybe a suspension to boot, IMO.
The sideline hit, where the ref pulled up the flag, was kinda strange but I can understand why the ref changed his mind... OBJ has an almost weird ability to anticipate hits, and in fact he delivered a legal hit on the DB moreso than he received. OBJ didn't sidestep - not sure he could have - but he also didn't even faintly try to "avoid" contact, he delivered it! Didn't catch that until the replay, but OBJ appears to be one tough and very field aware SOB.
The previous game I think the refs had it in for Breeland (vs. OBJ), they were all over him, and maybe this game they were lax because they perhaps went a bit overboard penalizing Breeland?
The Ogletree late hit on OBJ was ridiculous and should draw a fine and/or suspension as well. Stuff that far out of bounds is 110% against the rules and needs to be adressed toot suit. Any reports yet on fines from the game review?