The breakup between the New York Giants and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. might just be the messiest one of the NFL offseason so far – Beckham is just one of the players that the Giants moved on from this offseason, and like Landon Collins, has been plenty vocal since joining his new team. It doesn’t really seem like either player left the team on their own terms, and as a result, there’s been plenty of talk about the circumstances that led to the departures of both players.
There’s also been a lot of talk about Beckham not fitting into the Giants as an organization, and that was one of the driving factors for the plentiful trade rumors that were abound before the deal to send Beckham away actually happened. When Beckham spoke to Complex recently, it became clear just how deep the divide between the player and the Giants as an organization really was.
“I can’t wait to get going. I just felt with the Giants I was just stuck at a place that wasn’t working for me anymore. 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,” Beckham said, able to speak more honestly after moving on from the team.
“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,” Beckham added, which is likely referencing his interactions with the front office and the media during his time in New York. One of the major controversies of last season was Beckham’s ESPN interview with Lil Wayne, which drew direct criticism from co-owner John Mara and became more of a controversy than it initially seemed like.
From controversies over celebrations, attendance at offseason activities, and tense contract negotiations, plenty of drama has followed Beckham throughout his career in New York. Potentially, moving to Cleveland offers a fresh start in a less demanding market, with an organization that’s more willing to accept a star player as they come rather than asking as much as the New York press and the Giants front office did.
We’ll have to wait to see, however, if the move to Cleveland benefits the Giants as much as it benefits Beckham – the team’s passing offense with an aging quarterback and without their main receiver is still largely a question mark.