The Odell Beckham Jr. saga in Cleveland continues to heat up. After the wideout sat out practice again on Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that OBJ has likely requested his release.
As Cabot writes, it sounds like comments from the receiver’s dad ruffled some feathers within the Browns organization, with wideout Rashard Higgins making it clear that he’d never criticize his quarterback. Odell Beckham Sr. continued to fan the flames today when he onc3 again cited a video that show Baker Mayfield‘s inability to connect with his well-paid wideout. We still haven’t heard from Beckham Jr. regarding the social media shenanigans, but the silence seems to be pretty clear.
Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt indicated that he’s ready to move on from the current distraction, and it sounds like he’s already preparing for an offense without OBJ.
“We are going to go in and plan for the guys who are going to be there at this point,” Van Pelt said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “That is our focus.
“As of now, again, we are just getting ready for today’s practice. We will see where that goes from here. Again, just getting the guys ready who are here in the building today to go play on Sunday.”
Beckham’s contract is the main complication surrounding a divorce. The wideout is still owed $8MM this season, and there’s a limited number of teams with the required cap space to claim the player off waivers. Cabot suggests that the two sides could work on a creative agreement that would see OBJ give up a chunk of his owed money.
Likely has? So not certain
It really is amazing how far removed from the real world these guys are. Not many of us can stomp our angry little foot because we’re unhappy collecting eight million bucks for the remainder of the season.
Yes, they are the .01%ers. And yes, they are absolutely killing his ability to make a future contract that equals his skill sets. I’d be pissed as hell as well.
And yes, that makes them “removed” for sure, and rightfully so. It goes way beyond stomping his little foot.
If your employer destroyed your future career and took away your best earning years potential, you might be a little pissed as well.
So many people can’t see this for what it really is and think he is just a complainer. He’s an elite athlete getting robbed of his future earning potential.
Getting robbed? How so? The Browns WANT Beckham to post 1500 yards a season again. His not being able to do so may partially lack of fit, but I also seem to remember a certain WR who didn’t even show up for workouts with his quarterback because he preferred to stay in Florida instead-and then, afterward, failed to develop a connection with said quarterback and poured the entire season.
Higgins, on the other hand, has been working with Mayfield frequently. You can see the connection there.
The Browns should agree – if he is OK with paying back his future cap hit money.
Agreed, if he wants out…let Daddy’s boy give up the rest of his remaining 2021 salary due from the Browns
It’s sad when your dad has to fight your battles because you’re too weak to do it yourself. This obviously was planned or OBJ would be saying his dad speaks for himself.
How pathetic. Good riddance. Dump the cancer browns.
I do have to say that not badmouthing his team or QB personally is actually the only thing that Beckham is doing right. He is doing literally everything else wrong, and I have zero sympathy for him. But this would be worse for him and morally worse if he started blasting Mayfield and/or the Browns on social media or the press. It might be good for Cleveland, ironically, by showing publically that they were not in the wrong in this.
If I’m Cleveland, I’m playing him in whatever role I see fit. I’m still on the hook for the money, so yeah, I’m putting him as the third receiver or punt returner or whatever until the end of the year. If he refuses, I’ll try to recoup my money for breach of contract. I think refusing to play should be something that at least void some of the guarantees.
Is Sr. Doing the trash talk supposed to make Jr. Look better and not seem like a cancer?
Beckham doesn’t even want to play football anymore. You can see how terrified he is about getting hit. That’s why he drops so many balls. He still has great hands when nobody is going to hit him but he lacks concentration in the game because he’s anticipating the hit. He’s done. Just like a batter that gets hit in the face. He has the yips
This is the repeat and repeat and repeat story of the season. Please update us when something actually newsworthy happens. Instead of “ Heard it from a friend who, heard from it friend who”
Here is my guarantee….the Browns will dumb OBJ and then the Browns will start winning again. You see this all the time.
Another diva headed for a fall…..
Well I think we all know where Odell gets his immaturity from. I could have told you it was gonna end up this way when the browns signed him. Just like when they drafted manziel.
Never saw a check bounce because a football wasn’t thrown his way.
Only good thing Getty has done with G Men was getting rid of obj. I miss the days of Barry Sanders handing a td ball to the ref. This league is out of control defense making a video every turnover, bunch of thugs
Suspend him. Send the cancer home. Then gladly fight with the NFLPA about it. Don’t let the diva play for anyone else.