Although Odell Beckham Jr. stayed away from almost all of the Browns’ OTAs, not reporting to his new team until mandatory minicamp, the Pro Bowl wide receiver views Cleveland as a better fit for him than New York would have been going forward.
“I just felt with the Giants I was just stuck at a place that wasn’t working for me anymore,” Beckham said, via Complex.com’s Jacob Davey. “I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to reach my full potential there. Mentally, physically, spiritually, everything I felt capable of doing, I just couldn’t see it happening there.”
The 26-year-old wideout certainly had a tumultuous run in the Big Apple, his most recent two seasons cut short by injuries. The Giants traded Beckham for Jabrill Peppers, along with first- and third-round picks, in March. GM Dave Gettleman pulled the trigger after repeatedly saying he did not extend Beckham to trade him. The Giants started 1-7 in each of the past two seasons.
Beckham was part of several headline-driving stories during his five-year New York stay, one of which — an ESPN interview that criticized Eli Manning and questioned the Giants’ new offensive system — irking Pat Shurmur and leading to the wideout apologizing to the team midway through last season.
On the field, however, Beckham remains one of the league’s best. In 2016, the most recent of his three Pro Bowl slates, Beckham played a key role in the Giants reaching the playoffs. Though the 2014 first-round pick missed 16 games over the past two seasons, his 92.8 receiving yards per game rank second all time.
“I think allowing me to be in an environment where I can be myself and give it a different approach, I feel like my football will benefit,” Beckham said. “I’m just excited about being able to play football again and not have to deal with all the other stuff and politics that came with my previous role.”
The sixth-year receiver now joins longtime friend and former LSU teammate Jarvis Landry in northeast Ohio. That duo will be tasked with being an essential part of ending the Browns’ 16-season playoff drought. The five-year, $90MM extension Beckham signed in 2018 has him tethered to the Browns through 2023.
“I’m very excited by the culture at the Browns. It’s been building over the years, and they’ve got players over there who I just know I’m gonna click with,” Beckham said. “Jarvis is a brother of mine, and we dreamed of this moment. It’s just crazy that it’s actually happening.”
OBJ ur fricken selfish, too much drama for me
Great player but that will happen when you are on a team that is all about “team first“ and you turn everything into all about you.
Dude needs to just shut up and produce.
This dude is so brainwashed from society propaganda- poster child. Wouldn’t be surprised he’s under mk ultra
I wonder what exactly didn’t fit. All of the things he said were vague as if he was avoiding it. I just wonder what exactly he thought was going to be different for him in another place. Because the Giants didn’t care about his off field stuff when it came down to it. They let him do him so they could reap the reward of his play.
Eli Manning lol it’s no secret he’s at the end of his career. Better to grow with a young QB in place rather than an aging QB who wont last as long as OBJs contract
He’s right but he should just stop talking and let his play speak for itself. He’ll have better QB play this year I expect it’s gonna be a big year
Big city is fun for entertainment and marketing but a small market team is much better for succeeding in your profession. Much less distractions just what someone like OBJ needs
What a train wreck
The look on his face in the pic just says he doesn’t get it
Try staying on the field for a full season. Then maybe your potential can be reached. Shut up and play.
Honestly, I can understand OBJ’s issues in NY. The lack of leadership, lack of talent, changes in managers and coordinators, a QB on the decline, the drama in benching the QB, midseason firings, toxic work environment, team going through turnovers, etc.
Browns aren’t the best crew ever but it seems like they have turned a leaf and have made great strides lately. It’s a fresh, new environment with a bunch of young talent and some quality, friendly veterans looking to make something out of the Browns. That’s what OBJ needs.
He may be right, but obviously the Giants felt they couldn’t reach their potential with him either. This sounds a lot like the middle school boy who gets dumped by his girlfriend and then says, “I was going to dump her anyway.”
Exactly
He is a baby plain and simple.
The Giants didn’t tell him to do the bullshit he did.
Someone that can’t own their own bullshit are just damned to repeat it.
Probably the only time you will hear someone say they are going to Cleveland to reach their spiritual potential. The Pope probably said “Praise the Lord” when he heard the news that OBJ wasn’t coming to the Vatican instead.
Enjoy Cleveland Beckham
So, why sign the new contract then?