When New York Giants‘ Odell Beckham Jr. smashed his face against a kicking net just two years ago, everyone wondered how a head coach could let a player’s emotions become such an influence on the game. Ben McAdoo was the type of ‘leader’ to sit back and watch things unfold in the hopes that wrongs would magically become rights.
He was the epitome of “hands off” coaching, and it ultimately resulted in his firing. The Giants decided to go in a different direction with the new regime – Dave Gettleman is a stern manager that expects only the best from his players and has often been criticized for asking too much, while Shurmur is a man of few words, but when he speaks, they have value.
Beckham’s journey to the bank has been a bumpy one, and despite emotional breakouts and physical injuries, his talents have never wavered. His emotion is fueled by passion and desire, but harnessing it has become his true mission, and a talent that was thought to be un-coachable.
This offseason, the Giant’s star receiver has displayed class and perfect etiquette on and off the field. In other words, he earned his payday. But don’t think for a second that he just magically returned a changed man. He sought counselling from his new head coach, and Beckham went as far as to say Shurmur has been a true mentor to him, and reminds him of the influential coach he had in high school.
The script has changed, and for the better.
Since Shurmur become the head coach for the Giants, Beckham’s media driven life has changed for the better. He’s started youth camps, further upholding the image of the Giants brand and stature. After years of mismanagement from the Giants’ front-office, the Josh Brown debacle, the peeing celebration, the demise of the locker room…the organization seems to be on a path towards success.
A word from Odell Beckham Jr. on New York Giants head coach, Pat Shurmur:
“Since the day we were in LA and we met up early in the morning — I drove out there to see him — and just from the minute we sat down and talked even knowing when we hired him,†Beckham stated in regard to the leadership and serenity Shurmur has brought to his life.
“I had asked (Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs) and those other guys about him and just the relationship we’ve been able to build has been really amazing for me.â€
“It kind of reminds me of the relationship I had with my high school coach, who is somebody I still talk to this day, a guy who taught me to be a man and do these things,†Beckham said.
There’s no doubt Beckham has learned from his mistakes and the negative attention that seems to come with it. Ever since “the catch,” the receiver’s life has been turned upside down, thrusting him into a world of fame and fortune, a place that’s often too overwhelming for the normal human.
The maturity he’s displayed thus far has been very encouraging, and if he can become a mentor for the young players on the team and lead by example, there’s no reason the Giants can’t have one of the most dynamic and exciting offenses in the NFL.