NFL notes: Odell Beckham Jr. fined for abusing official

Excessive profanity against an NFL official left Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. a bit lighter in the wallet. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)
Associated Press

Odell Beckham Jr. was fined $12,154 for verbal abuse/excessive profanity toward an official following the Giants’ 24-14 loss at Pittsburgh last weekend.

The fine wasn’t related to Beckham’s postgame comments to reporters when he described an unsettling exchange with one official, complained about several non-calls and suggested referee Terry McAulay’s crew shouldn’t work any more Giants games.

It was the same crew that worked New York’s game against Carolina last season in which Beckham and then-Panthers cornerback Josh Norman repeatedly drew flags for their confrontations.

Three Jets players were each fined for unnecessary roughness during a 41-10 loss to Indianapolis. Cornerback Buster Skrine, D-lineman Sheldon Richardson and right tackle Breno Giancomini were all docked $9,115.

Oakland punter Marquette King was fined $12,154 for picking up an official’s flag and using it as a prop after being roughed by the Bills and Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree was docked the same amount for taunting.

Saints’ Vaccaro suspended

The NFL says New Orleans Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro will serve a four-game suspension, starting this Sunday at Tampa Bay, because he violated league rules pertaining to performance enhancing drug use.

The league did not specify which banned substance was found in Vaccaro’s system. The league not only bans steroids, but also diuretics that have been known to mask steroid use.

The Saints have four regular-season games left, meaning Vaccaro’s won’t play again this season unless New Orleans (5-7) rallies to make the playoffs. The Saints trail NFC South Division leaders Tampa Bay and Atlanta by two games.

Vaccaro was in on 67 solo or assisted tackles this season. He had one sack, five tackles for losses, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and eight quarterback hits.

Smith meets with Goodell

Suspended Oakland Raiders pass rusher Aldon Smith has met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in hopes of being reinstated.

A person with knowledge of the meeting says Smith sat down with the commissioner and other league staff Friday to make his case to be allowed back on the field following his yearlong suspension for violating rules on substance abuse.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the reinstatement process is confidential. There is no timeline for when or if Smith will be reinstated.

Smith was suspended in November 2015 for at least one year. He was eligible to be reinstated Nov. 17 an first met with Goodell on Friday.

Four games in London next season

The NFL will stage four regular-season games in London next year.

The league says the teams and venues for the four games will be announced on Tuesday.

The NFL started playing regular-season games in London in 2007, and has recently played three games per season in the British capital. The league has never before played four games in one season in London.

Most of the games have been played at Wembley Stadium, but one was played at Twickenham this season.

Commissioner Goddell says “we continue to be incredibly excited by the passion and love for the NFL shown by our millions of UK fans.”

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