Carolina Panthers’ Cornerback Josh Norman Fined Alongside Odell Beckham Jr.

Football news has most recently focused on the suspension of Odell Beckham Jr, but now it’s turned to Josh Norman, who’s been fined for his involvement in the skirmishes.

After some deliberation and a suspension for Beckham, Norman walked away with a $26,044 fine for his personal foul penalties during the game between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. During the game, Norman found himself in the middle of several violent encounters with Odell Beckahm Jr., wide receiver for the New York Games.

Beckham left the game with three personal penalties for attacks on Norman, although there weren’t any calls on Norman himself. Specifically, there was no facemask penalty during the game, even though Norman received an $8,681 fine for doing so. He was also given a $17,363 fine for striking Beckham in the neck/head area.

Norman was considered to be a target of Beckham’s, which led to much speculation about why Beckham wasn’t ejected from the game. Beckham was definitely the instigator, making some believe that a one-game suspension wasn’t enough for the wide receiver. However, when looking over the footage, it’s clear that Norman gave as good as he got.

In an interview with Norman after the game, he pinpointed Beckham’s hit to the head as the most appalling of attacks.

“The guy ran 15 yards down the field, dead-on collision,” Norman said. “The play was all the way to the left side. He came back and was hunting, and it was just, like, malicious in every way.”

This is one thing the NFL agreed with, which earned Beckham a suspension. However, despite his comments about the attack, Norman didn’t get off scot-free, even though his punishment was considerably less than that of Beckham’s.

In addition, Norman shared his feelings on the event with ESPN’s Mike & Mike radio show. He’s seeking to get fans and the league on his side through his comments.

“The crazy part about all the unsportsmanlike conducts, I was just trying to be myself at the end of the day. I know one of those plays, I was in Cover 2, I was just jamming the man inside of the play and I got a personal foul called against me. And that was in the confines of the play, within the whistle.

“That wasn’t after the whistle, that was within the whistle… They’re probably going to send me something about that… but I’m going to appeal it, and I’m going to get my justified case about the whole situation.

“I just pretty much showed people what this guy [Beckham] really is and what he stands for. I just don’t feel like that’s a part of the game that should be played. If you want to play, let’s play it straight up, let’s do it the right way.”

According to the NFL Network, Norman plans to appeal his punishment under the proviso that he was provoked. He said that he pulled at Beckham’s facemask to get him away from him. However, most believe this won’t be enough to revoke the punishment. Norman was too involved in other incidents during the game for them to take his appeal too seriously.

#Panthers CB Josh Norman is appealing these fines (duh). The argument will be he was provoked by Beckham, facemasked him to get him away

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 23, 2015

Beckham has a long history of violence on the field, with multiple incidences of suspension. He has a temper, to be sure, but because he’s such a valued player on the Giant’s team, his coach doesn’t want to pull him out of the game.

He and Norman have had run-ins in that past as well, both on the field and in private. During pre-game warmups Sunday, Norman brought a baseball bat onto the field in an obvious attempt to rile up the other team. Norman received no punishment, just like he didn’t during the game.

All of these things will come together in the case against Josh Norman being fined, and it’s likely that his appeal won’t be successful.

Odell Beckham Jr. is also seeking to appeal his punishment, but his chances of success are far less likely than Norman’s. Beckham’s history and temper has preceded him, and he’ll likely struggle to get on the NFL’s good side from here on out unless he changes his ways.

The unnecessary roughness between the two players got a little out of hand during Sunday night’s game, and it’s no surprise that Norman was fined in addition to Beckham’s suspension.

[Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]