Odell Beckham Jr.: Today's crew shouldn't officiate Giants games

ByJORDAN RAANAN
December 5, 2016, 6:11 PM

— -- PITTSBURGH -- New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. wasn't happy with the officiating in a 24-14 loss on Sunday to the Steelers. He found it so questionable that he doesn't think Terry McAulay's crew should be allowed to officiate Giants games moving forward.

McAulay's crew also officiated the Giants' game against the? Carolina Panthers?last season, when Beckham and Josh Norman were flagged for numerous unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, and the Giants- Redskins?game earlier this season, when Beckham wasn't happy with the crew's pregame warning.

Beckham claimed an official in McAulay's crew told him to "get out of my face" on Sunday when he questioned a first-quarter pass interference call.

"I don't know. I don't really think we should have this crew anymore when the Giants are playing, with the past history and everything that has gone on," Beckham said. "We came into Pittsburgh playing a great team, a playoff team each and every year; we were going to have to come out and give our best, and they got the better of us today. That is the bottom line. Just keep it moving."

Despite his complaints, Beckham said several times during his postgame news conference he didn't think the officials were the reason the Giants lost on Sunday. He still wasn't happy with how the game was officiated.

It was the pass interference call with four minutes remaining in the first quarter that seemed to stick in Beckham's memory bank. He was tussling with Steelers cornerback Ross Cockrell on the play deep down the left sideline.

The flag was tossed, and Beckham thought it was on the defense. He was surprised it was on him and even more surprised by the explanation -- or lack thereof -- from the official.

"I don't pay attention to nonsense. It was a horrible call in my opinion," Beckham said. "I don't understand how I'm running down the field on a go route and somebody tries to stop my progress, but I can't put my hands on them. But like I said, you can't rely on anybody. You got to go out and get it. Just try to stay composed. It's hard to stay composed when you know there is a lot of nonsense going on. But it is what it is, man."

Beckham was seen approaching field judge Rick Patterson after the play in question. Patterson is the official who threw the flag and appeared to be the official who had correspondence with Beckham.

"I went up to ask him what was going on, what was the flag, and he said, 'Get out my face,'" Beckham said. "Like I said, you just have to keep it moving."

Several other Giants players and coach Ben McAdoo downplayed the officiating after the contest. Beckham seemed the most affected.

"It's us against the world, in a sense," Beckham said after the loss. "You can't sit there and rely on refs, obviously. Obviously, that is not the case; you can't sit there and rely on them, if anybody watched the game [on Sunday]. It's not that I'm sitting here saying the refs are the reason we lost the game, but there is plenty of calls in the game and anybody can go watch the film. Anybody. Anybody can see exactly what is going on."

Beckham finished with 10 catches on 16 targets for 100 yards as the Giants' six-game winning streak ended.

The Steelers had 12 penalties for 115 yards in the contest, while the Giants finished with four penalties for 24 yards.