Tom Coughlin tells Odell Beckham Jr. to tone down TD celebrations
New York Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. scored two more touchdowns on Sunday, and he was flagged for excessive celebration after the first. Tom Coughlin was not pleased.
Beckham was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty when he spun the ball near a Rams player following a 9-yard score in the first quarter. The penalty was assessed on the kickoff and gave the Rams great field position.
“He finally got flagged for his celebration,” Coughlin said after the game, per Ebenezer Samuel of the NY Daily News. “That was an issue, because here we are kicking off from the 20-yard line and they got the ball with great field (position).
“I said something to him when it happened. When he was called for it, I said something to him.”
While Beckham said the celebration wasn’t directed toward anyone, he admitted he is still learning what you can and can’t get away with at the NFL level.
“I spun the ball in front of me. But it is something that was a penalty,” he said. “That’s just being young and trying to learn the rules and what you can and can’t do. I didn’t know that that was a penalty.”
After scoring his second touchdown, Beckham simply handed the ball to the official. Coughlin expressed confidence that the rookie will “tone it down” going forward.
Despite missing the first four games of the regular season, Beckham has 79 receptions for 1,120 yards and 11 touchdowns. If you ask me, anyone who is capable of making a catch like this deserves to celebrate it.
