Merton Hanks speaks to Wildcat football players in the LHHS locker room.
Credit: Danny Fulgencio
Merton Hanks, the NFL’s VP of Football Operations, has suspended New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after his out-of-control play Sunday. The NFL announced their ruling Monday.
“At numerous times during yesterday’s game against the Carolina Panthers,” Hanks wrote in a letter to Beckham, “your actions placed a fellow player at unnecessary risk…and clearly did not represent the high standards of sportsmanship expected.”
Beckham drew three penalties for personal fouls during the nationally televised game and was widely criticized on social media and by commentators Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. One helmet-to-helmet hit on Panther cornerback Josh Norman was called especially dangerous.
Beckham has appealed the decision.
Hanks graduated from LHHS in 1986 and played in the 1994 Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers (they beat San Diego). He was at LHHS in September on behalf of the NFL to present trophies to the school in honor of three Wildcats (Matt Stover, Detron Smith and Hanks) who have played in the Super Bowl. You can read more about Hanks’ NFL career here and and see photos from his return to LHHS here and here.
