NFL did not find ‘evidence’ Panthers made Homophobic Slurs at Giants Player

The NFL did not find any evidence that Carolina Panthers players made homophobic slurs against New York Giants wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. prior to last Sunday's game, according to a source that has knowledge of the situation, reported by The Washington Post.

There were reports that Beckham was provoked before the game even started. These reports were alleging that some players had directed homophobic slurs at him.

Former player, Deion Sanders, who is an analyst for the NFL Network, hinted that Beckham's sexuality was called into question.

"Then you start talking about his hairstyle. Then you start talking about his sexuality. So now when you're talking about things like that of that nature, it goes way off the field into something because now this is personal, Sanders had said to Sirius XM.

Ex-wide receiver Michael Irvin added to the New York Daily News, "He deals with it a lot. For some reason, everybody goes after him with gay slurs. He's a different kind of dude. He has the hairdo out, he's not the big muscular kind of dude. The ladies all love him. He's a star. I wonder why people are going in that direction. It blows my mind. I told him he can't let stuff that people say get to you."

Coaches from both teams also addressed these rumors. Giants coach Tom Coughlin did not excuse Beckham's behavior in the game but did mention that Beckham was provoked and that there are "two sides to this and not just one."

Panthers coach Ron Rivera defended his players and stated that he was "disappointed" by the rumors.

Beckham was punished with a one game suspension for his actions in the game. The league stated that Beckham's helmet-to-helmet hit against Josh Norman was unnecessary. Beckham, who appealed the suspension but lost, issued this statement:

"This isn't about anything that was said or done to me. This is about my behavior, and I am responsible for my behavior. People expect better from me, and I expect better from myself."

Norman was fined for two offenses in the game as well.