Odell Beckham Jr. suspended a game for dust-up with Josh Norman

New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been suspended one game by the NFL after drawing three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties during his team’s 38-35 loss to Carolina on Sunday. He has the right to appeal.

Much of Beckham’s aggressive behavior Sunday was aimed toward Panthers cornerback Josh Norman, who also was called for unsportsmanlike conduct twice for his role in some of the incidents. At one point, Beckham ran across the field to drill Panthers cornerback Josh Norman with a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit.

Some pieces might be starting to come together as to what started it all.

Accounts vary, but media outlets reported that one or more members of the Panthers, possibly including Norman, had a baseball bat on the sideline during pregame warmups and that threats against Beckham were either implied or directly made.

NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Panthers practice squad member Marcus Ball was holding a bat during pregame and at one point had to be separated from Beckham. Fox’s Jay Glazer reported that a Carolina player in street clothes handed a bat to Norman.

Glazer also said that he was told threats were made to end Beckham’s day but that the Panthers deny making such threats.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that at least one Panther official motioned toward Beckham with a bat while making comments to him. He reported that Norman grabbed the bat and started swinging it.

The Report’s Art Stapleton also wrote that Norman swung the bat and that threatening comments were made, not necessarily by Norman, toward Beckham.