NFL teams
Dan Graziano, senior NFL national reporter 9y

Odell Beckham Jr. plans to appeal fine

NFL, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said he doesn't believe he should have been fined $8,681 for his actions in Sunday's victory in Buffalo, and he plans to appeal the fine.

"Of course," Beckham said after Wednesday's practice. "I get punched every single game. I get hit in my face every single game. These are grown men out here. I don't think anybody should be talking about what happened after they lost a game."

Television replays showed Beckham throwing a punch at the helmet of Bills safety Duke Williams during a Buffalo interception return in the fourth quarter. Bills linebacker Preston Brown also accused Beckham of throwing a punch, telling The Buffalo News that the star wideout will "get away with it" because he is "the 'golden boy' of the league."

Beckham's antics also drew a reaction from Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who told The Buffalo News that Beckham is "a prima donna" who "feels like he's on top of the world and nobody's supposed to do anything to him."

While Beckham was not called for any penalties for postplay actions, the NFL reviews every play of every game for discipline purposes and found reason to fine the star wideout. Beckham said he didn't read the league's letter of explanation that came with the fine.

"It's whatever, man. It's football," Beckham said. "We're playing football. The Bills are, I think, a great team and a great defense. So just to hear their remarks and stuff like that, it kind of confuses me. It kind of messes with my idea of their identity."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin said Beckham came to speak with him Wednesday morning.

"Obviously I was disappointed, because I think he's beyond and above a lot of that stuff, and I think he'll put it behind him," Coughlin said. "And he's an emotional guy. Hey, let's face it. I told him, 'I want you to continue to block the way you're blocking.' He flies around out there."

At issue is what happened in terms of contact between Beckham and opposing players and whether that contact crossed the line. The NFL judged that it did Sunday, but Beckham does not appear to agree.

"It's tough to walk the line," Beckham said. "They're out there targeting you; they're trying to do things to you. As much as somebody would say they're not, they are. People hear so much about me, they're like, 'Oh, I can make my name off of him.'"

Beckham spoke several times this offseason and in training camp about the importance of controlling his emotions and not letting teams take him out of his game. But he laughed Wednesday at the idea that that's still an issue.

"I feel like I do a pretty good job," Beckham said. "I don't remember getting any flags during the game. Controlling my emotions is not really my concern."

ESPN.com Bills reporter Mike Rodak contributed to that report.

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