Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. appeared to brush into referee after play

MINNEAPOLIS -- New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. appeared to brush an official as he protested being hit out of bounds in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings.

Any contact was light and innocuous, but the NFL beefed up its rules after last season to include a strict ban on unnecessary contact with officials during games.

NFL rules currently state: "Under no circumstance is an official to allow a player to shove, push, or strike him in an offensive, disrespectful, or unsportsmanlike manner. The player shall be disqualified from the game, and any such action must be reported to the commissioner."

The contact occurred with six minutes, 22 seconds remaining before halftime at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Beckham and Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes had been exchanging verbal barbs for several plays when Rhodes hit Beckham out of bounds after a 4-yard catch. Referee Brad Allen's crew did not penalize Rhodes for the late hit, but Beckham was penalized for taunting when he rushed toward Rhodes and bumped him.

Beckham then sought out line judge Tom Symonette and, while protesting the hit, appeared to make light contact with him. If Allen had judged there was contact, he would have been within his authority to eject Beckham from the game.

As it is, Beckham will be automatically ejected if he commits another unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The automatic ejection rule was put in place this season in large part due to Beckham's behavior in a game last season against the Carolina Panthers. He has struggled to rein in his emotions this season as well.