Yesterday in the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers classic matchup, things got a little physical between Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr and Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.
Norman and Beckham seemingly fought every time they were matched up against each other. They got physical every chance they could yet there were no ejections during the game and now Beckham is facing a possible suspension.
At first it was fun but it got to a point where it got disgusting and neither team could even go down the field for a play.
It now appears that there might have been a reason for the issues between the two sides. Odell Beckham Jr was getting provoked before the game even started.
Following from ESPN’s Adam Schefter on his Facebook.
In pregame warmups, at least one Panthers official, and possibly more, carried black baseball bats on to the field and…
Posted by Adam Schefter on Monday, December 21, 2015
Here’s a video of Josh Norman with a baseball bat on the field during the pregame warmups.
Josh Norman w/ a baseball bat during pregame warm-ups. Usually #panthers "bring the wood" at home
(h/t @JayGlazer) pic.twitter.com/Nz9bj7GUmH
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) December 21, 2015
Fox Sports Jay Glazer adds more information on the scenario.
Sources say Beckham and the other player got into it after a threat to end his day was made. Panthers say no threat was made
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 21, 2015
Panthers however use the bat to symbolize "bringing the wood" a motivational saying among a lot of teams.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 21, 2015
Norman’s teammate, Bene Benwikere sheds some light on the Panthers black bat fascination. Something that usually happens only for home games.
I carried the bat out the tunnel against Atlanta and my teammates held it during warm ups that game to pic.twitter.com/SQTcIy8mrF
— Bené Benwikere (@BigPlayBene) December 21, 2015
Coaches and players in every sport use objects as symbols of motivation the bat is a symbol pic.twitter.com/kPGvaHQuHK
— Bené Benwikere (@BigPlayBene) December 21, 2015
It’s an odd scene for sure. Especially considering that Norman and the Panthers bring the bats out during home games but for the bats to come out on the road, especially on the field in a group setting like that. It seems like there might be something missing from this story.
