New York Giants wide receivers Odell Beckham, Jr. and Victor Cruz wore 9/11-inspired during Sunday’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. As the 2016 season opener occurred on the fifteenth anniversary of the attacks that took nearly 3,000 lives, it seemed very appropriate.
It was personally significant for Cruz. He was making his first regular season appearance in almost two calendar years. In addition, Cruz’s father is a New Jersey firefighter who was among the first responders at Ground Zero. At the time of the attacks, Cruz was a high school sophomore in Paterson, N.J.
Before each game, there was a message from President Obama. Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, and his wife Laura were present for the coin toss along with several police officers who were present at Ground Zero before the Giants/Cowboys game.
Beckham and Cruz expected to be fined by the NFL for wearing the 9/11-inspired cleats since the cleats went against the NFL’s uniform policy. On Wednesday, in an interview after practice, Cruz said, “I haven’t heard from the league. They’ll probably fine me. They fine me for everything. They fine me for smiling.”
Then the NFL announced that no player would be subject to uniform violation fines for honoring 9/11. This does not mean that the league won’t be demanding that Cruz and Beckham get out their checkbooks.
The two receivers were each fined $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct in celebration of Cruz’s touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ 20-19 win.
After two incomplete passes to Beckham on the Cowboys’ 3-yard line, Cruz broke off his route and quarterback Eli Manning found him for the go-ahead score. Cruz did his customary salsa end zone celebration after scoring. Beckham kneeled down and pretended to take pictures of Cruz as he danced.
Neither Beckham or Cruz were penalized for the celebration during the game.
For Beckham, this is the fourth time in his three seasons that he has been fined by the NFL. The fines total more than $100,000. He was also suspended for Week 16 last season after retaliating against then Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman.
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