The Browns and Odell Beckham Jr. will officially part ways Monday. They spent days reworking the disgruntled wide receiver’s contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, and the sides reached a separation agreement Friday afternoon.
The Browns agreed to remove the final two years of OBJ’s contract, Schefter tweets. Beckham, whose Giants-constructed extension previously ran through 2023, is now set to be a free agent after this season. The veteran receiver will officially be waived Monday. Waiver claims on Beckham will be due Tuesday afternoon, though the redone contract is pending the NFLPA’s approval, per Schefter (on Twitter).
This might all be immaterial given Beckham’s 2021 salary. He is still due $7.25MM for this season’s remainder, Schefter tweets. The transaction could not be processed Friday because of an NFL rule prohibiting teams restructuring players’ contracts and cutting them on the same business day. Regardless, Beckham will be off the Browns’ roster by Monday, ending a messy divorce that escalated this week.
Although Beckham was once one of the NFL’s most talented receivers, his value has dipped considerably. Injuries have slowed the 29-year-old wideout in each of his three Cleveland seasons. He played through multiple issues in 2019 and saw a torn ACL shelve him midway through last season. That knee injury kept him off the field for this year’s first two Browns games, and Beckham has also run into a shoulder ailment this season. In six 2021 games, OBJ has just 17 receptions for 232 yards and no touchdowns.
Last week, Beckham caught just one pass. The Browns could not find a taker for the eighth-year vet ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, and Beckham did not practice with the team this week. He will not play against the Bengals and figures to be on another team by this time next week. Whether that will come via free free agency or the waiver wire remains to be seen.
Only nine teams (excluding the Browns) hold more than $7.25MM in cap space presently. Though teams have myriad ways to create additional room, adding that salary in November is a pretty big ask. A team claiming Beckham could spoil his plans to find a way to a better situation. With the waiver wire determined by inverse record order, OBJ runs the risk of being claimed by a struggling team. However, the lofty second-half salary still provides a fairly good chance this saga ends with Beckham unclaimed and picking his next team via free agency. Even that might be a rental agreement that precedes Beckham signing with potentially a fourth team in March.
Gee I sure hope daddy and LeBron approve this.
Lebron is the biggest fraud in sports history
Lebron is very divisive vs the 2 GOATS he likes to think he’s on the level of, MJ and KOBE who brought people together.
Funny you include a rapist in the top two. f*ck Kobe
People that know basketball do not include Kobe in the GOAT discussion. There’s plenty of players that are way ahead of him.
One of the GOAT SGs? Sure. GOAT of any position? Not close.
Magic … Bill Russell … Kareem … Wilt … Oscar Robinson … Bird … Hell, he’s not even on Durant’s level. He’s actually 60th all time in Win Shares per 48 minutes. Shaq was better than him too.
I’m not the biggest Lebron fan, and I put MJ on another level from him, but to put Kobe above Lebron is lunacy. Outside shooting is literally the only thing he did better than Lebron, yet he still was much less efficient of a shooter.
Yeah, but when people die they instantly become legends at a higher level than they were. No doubt he was great, just not at that absolute elite level to be in the GOAT discussion.
There’s probably some of that. But also for some reason he’s always been someone that casual fans have overrated, similar to Iverson.
There were definitely some people trying to act like he was on MJ’s level back during his playing days too. (but the majority of them were probably Lakers fans)
Thank God….cancer eliminated.
Yeah, the open wr is the problem.
The open WR that dropped easy catches all the time? Baker lost faith in his declining skills.
He literally has TWO drops this season. What’s going to be the new excuse when the Browns continue to be an under-achieving, losing team?
Well .. very likely Baker. Baker needs to focus on his game to get better instead all of these stupid commercials. He is one of the most overhyped players in NFL history in my opinion. He hasn’t done anything yet.
Why should Rodgers and Mahomes get a pass for stupid commercials but not Baker?
Everyone gets a pass for “stupid commercials”. These people have free time outside of football.
Probably because they’re better players. And Mahomes should take a pass on them too. He has 5 different commercials out but suddenly doesn’t play well. Those are probably related. As soon as he became more celebrity than player his performance started to suffer.
Hasn’t done anything yet? Maybe you should clear your head before your throat.
I love that phrase in sports. “Hasn’t done anything yet” really just means “hasn’t impressed me personally”.
I’m calling out the play calling. Baker has an arm and has proven that he can play the position. I realize they have 2 good running backs and want to grind down their opponent but things just seem to get a little too simple and predictable with the play calling. I’m not saying that neither OBJ or Baker couldn’t have handled things better but to me the play calling is dry.
Baker is a whine bag cry baby
Team sport not a me sport.. good riddens …
riddance*
Go look at the alleged open Receivers catch % each year of his career for this year it is below 50% but they won’t count the pass he gator armed that touched his Stone Hand in the stats as a Target. Went from 70% as a rookie down to 60% his 2nd yr. He has made the playoffs once in his career since he got hurt last yr with the Browns, and they made the playoffs without him. Also the Browns are 2-15 since 2019 when they throw the ball 60% or more of the time. 2 key 4th down drops, of course you are not going to throw to someone who is unreliable. but Kevin Stefanski is also part of this problem going for it in stupid situations in the 1st Quarter chasing points because he is relying on some BS analytics.
Bye!
Perfect situation for OBJ now. He can either decide to chase the money which I doubt he does. Or he can pick and choose which team he wants to join and help him a SB.
Buccs will be an option cause he’s mates with TB and huge SB contenders, although they don’t need him. Green Bay will be another team he could join. Rams could be an option aswell, loves LA and they have a loaded team.
Ravens and Chargers should be trying to get him but I don’t think he would go there, 9ers are in a similar position too.
I think he could really really elevate Kansas City, Mahomes Kelce OBJ and Hill…
Ultimately I think it’s Green Bay
Except he’s not that good anymore. And can’t stay healthy. Seen this song and dance so many times before. Teams deal with antics when you’re good. TO, Joe Horn, Chad Johnson, even AB in Oakland and NE. Take your baggage to your daddy’s house, you can play with him in the front yard.
Ultimately, I really hope you’re wrong. If I understand right, and he’s subject to normal waiver claims, I doubt every team below GB allows him to get there. I mean, if the feeling among GM’s is he can actually help a team (more than he’ll hurt), and someone has the cap room to sign him, no way all the other playoff caliber teams pass on him.
Bro. None of those teams can afford him and they are in the bottom half in waiver claim order. He was waived. He is not a FA.
He will definitely clear waivers due to his salary. Bucs won’t claim/sign him because they already have enough weapons and already have a headcase with AB.
Raiders and Packers are probably the top bet. I would put money on the Raiders.
I dunno, I think the Bucs will try to sign Beckham. No contending team will try to claim him, due to his cap hit. But a non-contender wanting to try and convince him to stay or hoping for a playoff bid might try. Teams like Tampa and Green Bay and L.A. know that they have an advantage in trying to sign Beckham, and will wait for free agency.
New Orleans would claim him if the cap space were available, because they very badly need a lead WR and think that they have a chance to keep Beckham happy enough to stay and produce. Another team to keep an eye on is K.C. I definitely think that they have their eye on Beckham to help make up for loss of Sammy Watkins and help Mahomes’ production. The last team I think to watch is La Vegas, but that would only be if they get on the waiver wire. I think Mayock would certainly bring him as a rental, because there is little other than a franchise tag that keep long term with the Raiders.
You may be underestimating the negative aspect of the drama he brought with him everywhere he’s been. No doubt Rodgers or Brady could possibly coax an attitude adjustment, but team chemistry is a tricky thing and I’m not sure GMs who are winning would want to mess with that.
As much as I disapprove of Beckham’s me-first attitude and fragile egotism, Brady at least has proven that he only cares about winning. Antonio Brown is definitely a player with many more outstanding personal issues (including criminal ones, unlike Beckham) that Brady personally brought to Tampa.
I doubt that he’ll shy away from Beckham due to his personality after basically acting as Brown’s parole officer the last couple of years (dating back to his abetting Brown’s illicit departure from Oakland to New England).
anyone who picks up stonehands, and this Cancer will end up losing games because of him. Tampa already throws way too much, No one in their right mind should sign this clown. Teams can still pick him up when he is actually officially waived and the team that should that has nothing to lose is the Lions. They don’t have a #1 Rec or a #2 maybe not even a #3 guy. He would fit in real well with the Lions most of their receivers still are better then him and his below 50% catch Rating. Actual Targets at least 35 Catches 17.
Guy just isn’t that good anymore
Oh he’s food, he’s just a beyotch and locker room cancer.
What type of food?
The kind you like Starlin, baby food.
Lunch meat
Watch someone like the Lions submit a waiver claim on him.
That would be hilarious, I hope they do!
Next breaking article on OBJ coming every 4 hours…
Now he can sign with the lakers
Well, at least we have a good idea as to why his production was so low, Mayfield didn’t want to throw him the ball. All that talk about James or his Dad is bullcrap. The problem is Mayfield. Mayfield has been a jerk since at least when he was at OU. I’m a big OU fan since the early 70’s and I thought the flag plant at OSU was foul, immature, distasteful and dumb. Then he’s on video, drunk, trying to run from the police. He’s continually exhibited poor judgment. But yeah, its LBJ or Beckham’s Dad’s fault. Right?
Read several articles and saw one video that in-depth detailed how he was never where he was supposed to be and this makes sense when you consider how much better Baker played without him.
Your personal dislike for Baker Mayfield’s personality really doesn’t have anything to do with Beckham’s inability to make plays.
The Browns have now opened the door for disgruntled NFL players holding their team hostage ala the NBA. They should have followed Houston’s lead and put the dude on ice the rest of the year and then worked a trade before next year’s draft.
They needed to at least renegotiate the contract to lessen the cap issues. At least Cleveland didn’t cave to this clown, they told him to stay home and teammates had Bakers back. If the organization is as bad as he thinks and he was released it should be a humbling experience for him.
We will see how many teammates have Baker’s back now that he replaces OBJ as the fall guy if the team continues to struggle.
He’s not replacing him as the fall guy, he took more blame all along than OBJ.
I don’t like or dislike the guy. Just kind of meh on him. But as a football fan, outside of his one catch and marrying a kicking net, what is he known for or what will his legacy be?
He is known for being an amazing receiver in his first few years. He’s literally the fastest WR to 300 catches in NFL history (45 games). Faster than Rice, faster than Moss, faster than anyone. And that’s with Eli throwing him the ball.
He was incredible and a top 5 WR in the league. Then he got injured, then he got traded and wasn’t a fit and got injured again. Now it’s all up to him. Can he stay healthy? Can he fit into a new system? I would bet that he can’t, but he has no one to blame now.
Agreed with rct. I’m pretty meh on Beckham myself, but despite his personal flaws (of which there are many), he was incredibly productive with Manning and still has high level physical talent. His injuries, mental state, and decision making have immensely impacted his career.
I say he clears waivers and signs minimum deal with Cowboys or Saints the rebuild his image and value for free agency.
Cowboys are set at WR depth. Don’t need him
How great would it be if the Lions or Jets signed him? You want off the Browns, fine but now you get to spend the next year and a half in Detroit or New Jersey.
It will only be two months, since they reworked his deal. He’ll be a free agent in March.
The Raiders should take a gamble on him this season. I think he bounces back some outside of Cleveland and the Raiders could use some help in the WR core now.
Would love
For him to go to Detroit
If he gets with the right team, he will be great again. He just wasn’t a good fit with Cleveland and Mayfield. Same thing towards the end with the Giants, even though it was not at all his fault, nor Eli’s, as the coaching circus they had going on there at that time was the blame for that whole team imploding.
Has he been vocal and upset when the teams he was on were not playing well and losing? Yes. Is he complaining about not getting the ball because then he’s not the one in the spotlight? No. He’s complaining because if he was more efficiently used in the game plan, he could be helping his team win instead of struggling and losing. He’s a fierce competitor. He wants to win and be on a team of winners. What’s wrong with that? Wouldn’t it be great if every player on your favorite team had that same level of drive?
I am always a fan of underdogs, and have been rooting for the Browns and their resurgence. Let’s be honest though, they are more of a running team than a passing team. If it weren’t for Chubb and Hunt, they would not be as good as they have been because they won’t commit enough to the passing game to keep it in balance and to let Mayfield and his receivers, like OBJ, develop any rhythm or continuity. They game plan to have the passing game supplement the run game, only. Half of their passing formations are designed to show as a pass, only to set up the run. You can’t expect the passing game and the receivers to play at their best when they know that half the time when they are running routes they are just going through the motions so that the running back can make a big play. You can’t keep one of the most talented and prominent receivers out there as nothing more than an expensive decoy, and expect him to be at his best on the few instances when the ball comes his way, whether by play design or as a result of the called play breaking down and him being thrown to as a second, third, or fourth option. Then, when opposing defenses are able to scheme against this type of game calling and they are unable to win, blame that receiver, over and over again, and not expect him to be upset about playing for that team and wanting to go somewhere else where he can be efficiently used in a productive manner that helps his team win.
I wish him the best and am looking forward to watching him prove all of his critics wrong.
Some of your rationale just doesn’t hold up. For the millions he’s been paid, he most definitely can be used as a “decoy” at times if that’s what’s best for the team. Every truly great receiver has been asked to do that occasionally to make a play successful. Winning teams are made up of guys who for the most part, check their egos at the door and just show up to play.
You’re looking at it from the fan perspective. OBJ has had some injuries and for a WR is not the youngest any more. In a sport where you can be cut any time and unpaid, you’re always playing for a contract. So of course he wants his targets.
Plus is OBJ being a decoy absolutely what’s best for the team? It seems odd.
The situation just didn’t work, and it’s no one’s fault exclusively.
No, I’m looking at it from a team perspective. He’s looking at it from a ‘me’ perspective. If the tension is so bad that a team would go to the trouble of working out an unusual financial arrangement to get rid of a player mid-season, it doesn’t speak highly of him- from any perspective.
They just extracted a malignant tumor, addition by subtraction.