Browns WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry had to "change their footwear prior to the start of the second half" of their loss to the Broncos yesterday after being told they were "wearing improper cleats during the game," according to Tim Bielik of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Beckham was "sporting cleats inspired by the movie 'Joker' during the first half and Landry wore gold-painted cleats." Both were "deemed illegal according to the rules because they must be either 'black, white or any Constitutional team color'" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/4). Landry after the game said that he was "confused by the NFL's instructions, saying the original cleats had already been cleared by the league." Landry: "When we went up to the Nike headquarters to start game-planning for throughout the season, and our uniforms and things like that, these things get cleared by the league before Nike can start processing the shoe. ... I didn't see it as being a problem or a distraction to anybody." Beckham said that the Browns' "reversal this week to wear brown-colored uniforms instead of whites despite being on the road led to the cleat issue for him." He said, "The cleats that I had [were] not for that jersey, we were supposed to wear white. The cleats were white" (ESPN.com, 11/3). ESPN's Mike Golic Jr. said noted Beckham “sits down with Nike in the offseason and goes over" what he is going to wear during the season. Golic: "This is big money for a guy that is visible as Odell Beckham Jr., what he wears winds up all over the Internet” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 11/4).
BEING SINGLED OUT? Beckham said that he believes the NFL is "singling him out." He said, "You just got to know your situation, know who you are, where you are and know they're going to try to take them off regardless, even though I've seen people in cleats that are completely different colored from their team and they can wear them all game on a prime-time game and for some reason when it comes to me, it's just not the case" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 11/3). ESPN Radio’s Trey Wingo admitted it feels like the NFL is "beginning to pick on Odell Beckham Jr. here a little bit” ("Golic & Wingo," ESPN Radio, 11/4). Meanwhile, Landry also "felt he was being singled out." He said, "You see guys wear highlighter green cleats that don't play for the Seahawks or don't play for a team that has highlighter in their jersey at all, but they still wear the cleats" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/4).
