Odell Beckham Jr. was shut down by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes last night to the tune of just three catches for 23 yards, and one unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting. The Giants' wide receiver was visibly frustrated throughout the game and that carried over into the post-game when he spoke to reporters about how he's being targeted by officials.
After New York's 24-10 loss, Beckham said:
"I just have to understand if I sneeze the wrong way, it will be a flag." "It will be a fine. If I tie my shoes the wrong way, it might be a fine or a flag. It is what it is. You have to understand that. As tough as it is to understand that for a 23-year-old who has been blessed with a lot that God has given me—an amazing amount of ability and an amazing amount of everything—it seems like it’s all working against you. But what are you going to do? You gonna back down, or you gonna stand up? I’ve never been one to back down. I’m going to stand up. We’re going to work to get better."
“I have to know the scenario,” Beckham said. “The refs are looking to call anything, and they’re not looking to call anything the other way. So, you have to know that. You have to be OK with it.”
Eli Manning also addressed the situation after the game, saying Odell has brought this on himself- especially after last weekend's meltdown during a loss to Josh Norman and the Washington Redskins.
"He's got to be aware," Manning said. "People are looking for him. He's got to play smart, and he can't afford to do anything there. They're going to call him. He's brought that on himself, and he's got to realize that."
Beckham and the Giants will be in the spotlight once again in Week 5 when they travel to Lambeau Field for a Sunday night matchup against the Packers. He's aware that the cameras will be waiting for him to lose his composure once again.
"You have to know that," Beckham said. "You have to understand it. It's never going to deter me from what I want to do. It's never going to deter us from the goals that we have set, my goals that I have set. It's not going to stop me. It's just going to make me have to work harder, smarter and just understand that it's all against you. It is what it is. Whatever you want to call it, it's against you. And you have to live with that."