The tumultuous battle between Josh Norman and Odell Beckham Jr. on Sunday might have started even before kickoff.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday afternoon that the Carolina Panthers started the mind games during pregame warmups. According to Schefter, at least one Panthers official carried a black baseball bat onto the field before the game and motioned at Beckham.

Schefter also reports that Norman also had a turn with the bat at some point.

NorthJersey.com reported Monday that there was also some trash talk involved, as is expected. A source told The Record's Art Stapleton that Panthers players were telling Beckham they were coming to "beat the (expletive) out of him."

Another Panthers cornerback, Bene Benwikere, all but confirmed the allegations -- at least the bat part -- with a string of tweets Monday. According to him (and photos from previous games), this is nothing new for the Panthers.

Beckham clearly was agitated all game long. He and Norman repeatedly got into it during the game and after whistles. That included a vicious-looking helmet-to-helmet hit from Beckham after the whistle that reportedly is "likely" to get Beckham suspended one game. Giants coach Tom Coughlin admitted he thought about benching Beckham, instead electing to leave the wideout in the game. Carolina won the game with a last-second field goal.

It's safe to say this isn't the last we've heard of this story.

Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@BigPlayBene