Shaquille O’Neal defends Odell Beckham, Jr. (Video)

Shaquille O’Neal is coming out in support of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. after he was suspended for a game.

Odell Beckham, Jr. has been suspended for a game by the NFL, after his actions on the field during the New York Giants’ game against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday. Beckham, Jr. and Panthers cornerback Josh Norman went at it all day on the field, and Beckham, Jr. ended up taking some dangerous shots at Norman.

While the Panthers were doing things to get under the skin of Beckham, Jr., everyone has said what Beckham, Jr. did went too far.

One person who has come out in support of Beckham, Jr. is legendary NBA center Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal is a fellow Louisiana guy like Beckham, Jr., and he feels that the Giants’ receiver was out there trying to prove that he wasn’t soft.

As a guest on The Rich Eisen Show, O’Neal discussed Beckham, Jr.’s actions out on the field.

O’Neal mentioned how he had known Beckham, Jr. all of his life and that he is a good kid.

"“I’ve known him all his life. He’s not a troubled kid. He’s not a troublemaker, but by any means, he’s not soft. I guess the guy got under his skin. There’s a lot of stuff we did not see like the spitting and the trash talking and the disrespecting. I’m a true believer that sometimes you have to touch people up to let them know that you’re not soft.“The play was dangerous, him launching his helmet, but football is a dangerous, violent sport. But I think he showed the world yesterday that he’s not soft. It’s my understanding that some derogatory comments were made about his hair. Just a lot of disrespectful stuff — bats on the sideline, and people talking about people ending people’s career. Maybe it got under his skin, maybe it didn’t…“Every now and then you have to touch people up in the nature of the game … You’re hard, I’m harder, I’m coming at you just like you’re coming at me.”“I’ve known him all his life. He’s not a troubled kid. He’s not a troublemaker, but by any means, he’s not soft. I guess the guy got under his skin. There’s a lot of stuff we did not see like the spitting and the trash talking and the disrespecting. I’m a true believer that sometimes you have to touch people up to let them know that you’re not soft.“The play was dangerous, him launching his helmet, but football is a dangerous, violent sport. But I think he showed the world yesterday that he’s not soft. It’s my understanding that some derogatory comments were made about his hair. Just a lot of disrespectful stuff — bats on the sideline, and people talking about people ending people’s career. Maybe it got under his skin, maybe it didn’t…“Every now and then you have to touch people up in the nature of the game … You’re hard, I’m harder, I’m coming at you just like you’re coming at me.”"

While everyone has been quick to bury Beckham, Jr. for his actions on the field, O’Neal sees the way things unfolded a bit differently. Rather than seeing it as dangerous and unnecessary, O’Neal understands that in Beckham, Jr.’s eyes, he had to do what was necessary against a team that was getting under his skin.

O’Neal has been in similar situations on the court before in his career, from getting into fights with Brad Miller to wrestling with Charles Barkley on the court.

Beckham, Jr. is appealing his suspension, but even if he does have it upheld, he has one supporter on his side for his actions against the Panthers on Sunday.