After making the most spectacular catch of this, or any, NFL season, Odell Beckham Jr. probably figured he could do no wrong on Sunday Night Football. And his charmed evening seemed to continue in the second half when he caught an Eli Manning pass near the sideline then was shoved out of bounds by Barry Church.
The hit drew immediate flags, as well as roars from the MetLife Stadium crowd,. Not only did Beckham get enough for a first down, but the resulting unsportsmanlike conduct penalty would put New York inside the Dallas 10-yard line with a chance to go up 11 points. Only it wasn’t to be, as referee Bill Vinovich picked up the flag and described why in one of the oddest zebra explanations you’ll ever hear.
Hey, he wouldn’t be the first Beckham to take a lame flop, AMIRITE FELLOW BOORISH AMERICANS!
(Getty Images)
“Took a flop?” Al Michaels asked rhetorically after the official’s explanation. He said he’d never heard such a call on the football field. But after looking at the reply, he and Cris Collinsworth seemed to agree. Were they, and Vinovich, correct?
Exhibit A:
Beckham begins to plead his case while the “late hit” was ongoing. Look at his arm. When you’re actually getting pummeled illegally, you’re most concerned with said pummeling, not looking for a flag. The contact was real, but Beckham was milking it for the officials.
Exhibit B:
It wasn’t just that Beckham took that dive after the admittedly late contact, but watch as he goes to the sideline. He pauses/hotdogs/high-steps just long enough to keep him in bounds which, in my opinion, makes him completely fair game. Beckham pulled the old Deion Sanders, giving the “catch me if you can” look. In this case, Barry Church did. Since Beckham was too busy preening, he was still on the field of play. Fair. Game.
Anyway, we don’t need this. The NFL has mostly avoided the scourge of sports. Be strong, Odell.
It’s just too bad Vinovich went with “took a flop” for the explanation. While great, “giving him the business” was clearly the better description.
