I’m going to miss Odell Beckham Jr., but New York isn’t.
If there were any lingering doubts the Giants should have traded their mercurial superstar in a blockbuster move last March, those apprehensions should be eased by what Beckham had to say in GQ this month under the headline: “Inside the mind of Odell Beckham Jr.”
That was always an interesting place to be for a journalist. There was never a lack of material after a conversation with the ultra-talented wide receiver. He was the Giants’ first social media star — who courted the kind of controversy that didn’t always sit well with the Giants, but made for interesting headlines.
I’m not sure what Beckham had to complain about during his time in New York. There’s perhaps no other team or city in the NFL where he could max out his marketability the way he did. His special blend of talent and charisma played well in the city and earned him a $95 million contract and plenty of endorsement opportunities.
The baggage was getting heavy, though. The boat trip is still talked about because the Giants lost the only playoff game they have played since 2011, and Beckham had his worst game against the Packers in the biggest moment. He also embarrassed the organization with the Paris video that surfaced during the 2018 offseason. Then there was the Lil Wayne interview last year in which he didn’t exactly praise his quarterback or coaching staff. The fact Beckham played in just 16 games over the past two seasons due to injuries can’t be dismissed.
The Giants begin the Beckham-less era with their first practice of training camp in East Rutherford, N.J., on Wednesday. They will move on without talking about Beckham. But Beckham apparently isn’t going to stop talking about the Giants.
There seems to be resentment inside the mind of Beckham over the way he was treated by the Giants, the New York media and the team’s fan base. He used words like “double-standard” and said he got “made out to be some rule-breaker.” He also added, “You give us a voice and then you want to control how we use the voice.”
Here’s a hint about the New York media: It isn’t about controlling, it’s about debating, analyzing, endorsing or criticizing what comes out of that voice. As charismatic as he might be, Beckham’s voice would not have been as strong had he played in Jacksonville or Tampa Bay or even Cleveland. And his voice will be missed by those of us who appreciated writing and critiquing whatever he offered.
The Giants probably weren’t shocked by Beckham saying he felt “disrespected” and that he “wasn’t happy” and “wasn’t in a good place.” The sympathy meter shouldn’t move. The Giants haven’t been in a good place in recent years, going 3-13 and 5-11 after making the playoffs and going 11-5 in Ben McAdoo’s first season as head coach in 2016.
That’s why Beckham’s career with the Giants is largely a footnote. He won’t receive the adulation Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Phil Simms, Michael Strahan or Eli Manning receives. All of them won Super Bowls, and “The Catch” in Giants history really belongs to David Tyree.
I always liked Beckham, but him saying “I was the main reason at keeping the brand alive” is laughable. The Giants will always be a prime-time brand regardless of the name on the back of the jersey. The television market and the franchise’s storied history long before Beckham arrived dictate that.
The Giants’ main concern, beginning Wednesday, is to benefit from the trade. Jabrill Peppers, coming home to his native New Jersey, has to be an impact player at safety. The Giants also drafted defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence of Clemson with Cleveland’s 17th pick — acquired in the trade — and outside linebacker Oshane Ximines in the third round with the 95th choice. Lawrence can make plays from different positions along the line, and Ximines set a school record at Old Dominion with 33 career sacks.
The Giants are more interested in that than what Beckham has to say.
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