BROOK PARK, Ohio _ The NFL hit Odell Beckham Jr. in the wallet, and the Browns wide receiver fired back Tuesday, verbally blasting the league over fining him $14,037 for a uniform violation.
The superstar player made the comments after spending part of his day off bowling with 45 students from the Canton City School District at AMF Brookgate Lanes. The event was part of the Browns' initiative to encourage school attendance.
Beckham said he'll appeal the fine he received for his pants failing to cover the knee area Oct. 13 in a 32-28 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He said he had been fined for the same uniform violation in previous years.
"It's just whack," Beckham said. "Getting fined $15,000 for some pants, and a knee pad that's this big is not going to protect me from getting hit (by New England Patriots linebacker) Dont'a Hightower straight into my knee.
"It's stupid. You know? There's no way around it. You can ask people in the NFL. I got hit from all kinds of different players and different teams. It's just whack."
The fine for the uniform violation was the same amount Beckham and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey were each docked for fighting during the Browns' 40-25 win on Sept. 29.
"It's just different for me," Beckham said, referring to the treatment he receives from the league. "Whatever the case may be, they feel the need to fine me for some pants that cost probably six cents to make, and we're getting fined $15,000. They're just finding a way to pull the money back from the players."
Beckham argued "nobody wears their knee pads over their kneecaps unless they play quarterback and don't have to really run."
Although the NFL will likely cut Beckham some slack after he appeals, he's still frustrated.
"Taking it from $14,000 to $3,000, I'm still losing $3,000 for something that should not (result in punishment)," said Beckham, who posted the fine letter from the NFL on Instagram on Monday night. "If you want us to be protected, then we need to be in full metal gear and not be able to run and move.
"What's more important, being able to run and move or the protection because that pad is not going to do a single thing? I've been hit in the thigh pads that are given to us and had a thigh contusion and later tore it during the season. It's not going to do nothing. This is a gladiator sport. They're there for the rules and that's it. Other than that, they're not there for protection."
