via ESPN
Odell Beckham Jr. was suspended one game for on-field antics that could have been the triggered by threats and homophobic slurs made to him by a member of the Carolina Panthers' practice squad prior to the game, and on Wednesday Giants punter Brad Wing, who was standing nearby, revealed what he heard during the altercation.
During warm-ups before Sunday's game, members of the Panthers were seen carrying baseball bats, a pump-up tradition that they've done all season long. But one member of the practice squad, Marcus Ball, approached Beckham with a bat and was caught on video yelling toward him. The two were separated by members of the Giants, including Wing.
Here's video:
What is a Panthers practice squad player doing going into the Giants team stretching area.. with a baseball bat? pic.twitter.com/4mIQ0jwYRg
- Giants Daily (@NYGDaily) December 22, 2015Brad Wing said he heard Panthers practice squad player holding bat tell Odell "I will be the reason you don't play today."
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Wing said he did not hear any anti-gay slurs but he did feel Odell was shaken by pre-game situation.
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brad Wing, on anti-gay slurs: "There may have been, there may not have been, I don't want to say there was because I don't remember 100%"
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brad Wing: "I mean, he had a baseball bat. He never swung it at Odell or anything like that but it was there, it was present.''
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brad Wing, on Odell's reaction to pre-game bat and threats: "Yeah, I think shaken him up is an accurate way to put it.''
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brag Wing on bat-wielding practice squad player: "I kind of still watched him as he went back to his side of the field and he ...
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015... went straight to Josh Norman and they had a little conversation. I don't know what they were talking about.''
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brad Wing on pre-game: "After the game putting all the pieces together it may have had an impact in the way Odell was acting.''
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brad Wing: "It was a legitimate threat. The guy was in an area he was not supposed to be, obviously.''
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015Brad Wing on anti-gay slurs to Odell: "I know that's something he's definitely had to deal with, just by him communicating that with me.''
- Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) December 23, 2015