Briean Boddy-Calhoun once had his Gophers career jeopardized by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The scrappy playmaker who went undrafted last year, is now in his second year as a Browns defensive back.
Monday night, the 5-9, 193-pound Boddy-Calhoun became a villain in some circles for a controversial hit on Giants superstar Odell Beckham Jr. Others noted that the hit was well within NFL rules.
Beckham made a leaping, 18-yard catch early in the second quarter. Boddy-Calhoun went low for the tackle, putting his head down at impact while his shoulder pads connecting with Beckham's left knee.
The hit knocked Beckham sideways, off his feet, with his shoulder and head hitting the grass. Beckham spun the ball toward Boddy-Calhoun in apparent disgust and limped away. The Giants later said Beckham had a sprained ankle.
Don Van Natta Jr., an ESPN senior writer, tweeted that Boddy-Calhoun should be suspended for the entire regular season.
ESPN's Kevin Seifert later wrote, "Reasonable people can argue whether the hit from Browns cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun was necessary, unavoidable, clean or dirty. But there is no arguing this point: It was 100 percent legal."
Seifert explained that NFL rules designed to minimize head injuries have spurred defenders to change their tackling technique, lowering their targets.
Giants coach Ben McAdoo echoed those thoughts after the game.