Odell Beckham Jr. wasn't the only player at MetLife Stadium looking to bring the wood Sunday.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, several Panthers officials and/or players were seen caring black bats and motioning toward the Giants star wide receiver during pregame warmups in a threatening manner.
In pregame warmups, at least one Panthers official, and possibly more, carried black baseball bats on to the field and were motioning with them towards Odell Beckham Jr. while making comments to him, per a league source. Norman later grabbed the black bat and was swinging it in pregame warmups – which, by the way, an NFL Films camera captured. Beckham, according to another source, felt threatened and it helped put him in a certain frame of mind. It does not excuse what he did during the course of the game, but it does explain what led up to the battle that still is the talk of the league today.
Schefter later clarified his report after the Panthers provided a statement, claiming it was only practice squad safety Marcus Ball who was seen waving a bat.
Panthers said bats symbolize home-run plays and “bringing the wood.” Panthers insisted Ball was the only player to have a bat, and Josh Norman did not exchange pre-game words with Odell Beckham Jr. over the bat. Norman held the bat, but never motioned with it at Beckham, according to the Panthers.
Film crews, as well as the Giants social media team, captured Ball with the bat.
It's going to be a busy week in the NFL offices. It's bad enough they have to decide what to do with Beckham after he decided to play like an unhinged maniac, head hunting Josh Norman. Now the league has to deal with players bringing baseball bats onto the field.
[h/t/ Barstool Sports]
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