CLEVELAND — Earlier this season, Odell Beckham Jr. claimed he has been unfairly targeted by the NFL.
On Sunday, the Cleveland Browns star wide receiver may have strengthened his case.
Hauling in a 22-yard pass from Baker Mayfield on the Browns' second offensive drive vs. the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Beckham appeared to bring his team's offense to the Ravens' 37-yard line. The play, however, was ultimately negated by a 15-yard taunting penalty called on Beckham, who put his hand under his chin to wave at the Baltimore sideline.
It's worth noting that Beckham has performed a similar celebration on several occasions throughout the 2019 season. Only never before has it been called for a 15-yard penalty.
Earlier this season, Beckham made the case that the reputation he built during his five seasons with the New York Giants resulted in him being unfairly targeted by the NFL for rules violations that aren't often called on other players. Following the Browns' season opener vs. the Tennessee Titans, the 3-time Pro Bowl receiver was asked by the league to stop wearing his designer watch during games, while an illegal face shield resulted in him being temporarily pulled from Cleveland's Week 2 win over the New York Jets.
“I don’t know if my rule book is specific to the rest of the league,” Beckham told reporters in September following the visor incident. “I think I have a different rule book.”