Poor Odell Beckham Jr. The 26-year-old wide receiver feels "disrespected" by the Giants because, he says, he was targeted only seven times in a playoff loss to the Packers three years ago, when he played poorly after taking the infamous Miami boat trip earlier that week.
And how dare Giants management not keep him in the loop before trading him to the Browns in March? Didn't team owner John Mara and general manager Dave Gettleman realize that OBJ was, in his typical diva-like view, "a main reason for keeping that brand alive?"
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These are all statements Beckham made in a recent interview with GQ Magazine. As a topper, Beckham also claimed that perhaps he should not have signed the $95 million extension with New York last summer, a deal that made him the NFL's highest-paid receiver, after he had threatened to hold out without the new contract.
"During the season, I would be saying, 'Why did you sign me?' I could've just not did this at all," Beckham said, supposedly with a straight face.
Beckham claims he is happy to be in Cleveland, but apparently he misses New York tabloids; he gave them lots of material during his five controversial seasons with the Giants. So it's not surprising to hear him making such outrageous and egotistical remarks to GQ.
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It's like clockwork. Every couple months, Beckham will say or do something to garner attention and put himself in the limelight. It has become his m.o. and a major facet of his public persona. It's part and parcel of his desire to be a celebrity above all else.
And it doesn't matter how ridiculous his statements sound. Beckham will say outrageous things seemingly just to get a rise out of people and fuel more headlines for things far removed from making great catches as one of the game's most talented receivers when healthy.
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As an NFL team executive, I always preferred our highest-paid star players to be focused on football and family; to be great teammates and team leaders. I'm sure Mara, Gettleman and Giants coach Pat Shurmur (whom Beckham also ripped in the GQ article for not keeping him updated on trade talks) are happy to be rid of the mercurial and impossible-to-manage Beckham.
I dare say Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, GM John Dorsey and coach Freddie Kitchens rolled their eyes when reading these Beckham comments and are wondering when — not if — the receiver will find a reason to criticize each of them. Such as when the Browns lose a game and he is not targeted at least a dozen times.
Cleveland's day of reckoning for bringing in OBJ is inevitable. The best-case scenario for the franchise and its fans is Beckham giving them several healthy, Pro Bowl seasons as the Browns try to put up with his on-field antics and off-field controversies.
In the aftermath of that GQ article, here is my advice to OBJ:
- Regarding your claim of being disrespected by Giants coaches with only seven targets in that 2016 playoff loss: It was actually 11 targets, of which you caught four (for 28 yards) and had three drops, including a sure touchdown. The bottom line from that forgettable game: Don't take a trip to go party with Justin Bieber when you should be preparing your mind and body for the NFL playoffs.
- Don't expect Dorsey to keep you in the loop when he trades you away from Cleveland in a couple years. GMs never give their players a blow-by-blow of what's happening in trade talks because the vast majority are never consummated. When a player has to have a salary adjustment as part of the trade consideration, then that player and his agent will become involved. That could happen if you don't play up to your $19 million-per-year salary.
- Avoid repeating the embarrassing claim that you are a bigger brand than an NFL team, especially an iconic franchise like the Giants. This 89-year-old team has won 24 playoff games and four Super Bowls. All Giants games were sold out before you arrived, and with you having moved on, they're not about to go out of business.
- Regarding your $95 million deal with $65 million guaranteed: Please don't insult the intelligence of NFL fans by saying you should have passed on that generous contract. (Which is costing the Giants $16 million in dead money against their salary cap this year.)
The Browns start training camp this week, and they will be praying Beckham can quickly get up to speed in Kitchens' offense. After all, Beckham skipped the vast majority of the offseason program, which is a no-no for a player new to a team who needs to learn the intricacies of the offense and get in sync with his new quarterback. There also has to be concern about whether Beckham will report in top shape and be able to avoid injury early in camp, which all too often happens to players who aren't present in the offseason.
Then there will be the trepidation within the Cleveland front office regarding the next time Beckham will say or do something that is a negative for the team.
As Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy always told his players: “Never do anything to put yourself or your team in a bad light."
Beckham does it on a regular basis. Buckle up, Browns.
Jeff Diamond is a former president of the Titans and former vice president/general manager of the Vikings. He was selected NFL Executive of the Year in 1998. Diamond is currently a business and sports consultant who also does broadcast and online media work. He makes speaking appearances to corporate/civic groups and college classes on negotiation and sports business/sports management. He is the former chairman and CEO of The Ingram Group. Follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeffdiamondNFL.
