Eli Manning Responds to Odell Beckham's Ref Comments After Loss vs. Steelers

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. proposed Terry McAulay's officiating crew should be banned from refereeing Giants games in the future after Sunday's 24-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.

Quarterback Eli Manning offered a suggestion for how his receiver should deal with referees in future games while appearing on WFAN Sports Monday (h/t Tom Rock of Newsday): "He's got to be careful. With officials, you want to kill them with kindness."

Manning continued (h/t Rock), "He's gotta learn to be a good guy and warm up to those guys (refs) to get some calls."

While Beckham may have been frustrated with the lack of calls, Raanan noted the Steelers were penalized 12 times for 115 yards. New York was only called for four penalties for 24 yards, and Beckham managed to tally 10 catches for 100 yards despite the perceived bias from the officiating crew.

Sunday was not the first time Beckham had issues with McAulay's crew.

According to Raanan, that group officiated New York's infamous game with the Carolina Panthers last year when Beckham and cornerback Josh Norman scuffled throughout the contest. Beckham was suspended and fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Norman when he launched himself at the defensive back following a play.

What's more, McAulay's crew officiated a battle between the Giants and Norman's Washington Redskins earlier this season when Beckham received a pregame warning.

Beckham elaborated his thoughts on McAulay's crew, per Raanan:

"

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. 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.

"

Giants coach Ben McAdoo discussed the officiating from Sunday's game on Monday during a conference call, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.

"I would say that I thought there were a few times yesterday where he may have been interfered with," McAdoo said. "But that's part of the process. We're going to send it in to New York and to the officials and let them take a look at it and get some feedback from it, some clarification."

As for Manning, this is not the first time the quarterback has commented on Beckham's behavior and composure (or lack thereof) this season.

After a 24-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in October, the two-time Super Bowl champion said Beckham "brought [it] upon himself" when discussing the additional scrutiny the receiver sees from officiating crews, per ESPN's Ed Werder.

Beckham cost the Giants during that loss with an unsportsmanlike penalty after exchanging words with defensive back Xavier Rhodes and making contact with an official.

Between the battles with Norman to the highly publicized fling with sideline kicking nets, Beckham has drawn plenty of headlines for more than just his play the last couple of seasons. Sunday's comments were just the latest, but it is impossible to ignore his talent.

His 1,015 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches are a primary reason the Giants are 8-4 and in prime position to seize a wild-card spot in the NFC playoffs. However, if playing nice with the officials will make him an even more dangerous player like Manning suggested, opposing secondaries will likely want nothing to do with him down the stretch.