Photo: Pinterest
By: Sal Marinello
Odell Beckham, Jr is the most dynamic and exciting player on the roster of the New York Football Giants but he is a brat, and they are stuck with him.
He will continue to be a distraction and a pain-in-the-ass because the Giants will disrupt their salary structure and affect the composition of their team for years to come.
Currently, Odell is scheduled to earn $1.8 million for the 2017 season, which is much less than what the other top NFL receivers earn, and has skipped OTAs in a not-so-subtle attempt to renegotiate the final 2 years on his contract. The Giants are in an unenviable position, as they will have to pay this brat.
Photo: TMZ.com
The Giants really haven’t had this kind of guy on the team; the prototypical example of a spoiled brat, pain-in-the-ass, diva-style modern athlete. This process will be interesting to watch. The repercussions from ameliorating ODB will be felt for years and on their offensive line, as well.
Good wide receivers are an annoyance, as they garner stats and attention – and subsequently salary – but do so because of other, more important components of an offense. Behind every great, game breaking receiver stands a great, game breaking quarterback. As a result, wide receivers occupy an abnormally large percentage of salary cap.
But this is the game the vast majority of teams in the NFL have to play in 2017.
Odell is also a punk. Just want to get that in.
More bad news. The buzz is that he ‘sucks the air out of the locker-room,’ as reported by either Willie Colon or Chris Canty (forget which one) on the local ESPN Radio station. He misses team events and has blown off other appearances. Michael Kay, the local ESPN Radio afternoon drive time host, said this Wednesday that 2 years ago Odell was a horrible guest despite the fact he was paid to appear in a weekly spot on the show, frequently calling in late and not offering much in the way of information.
Of course we all know what he did the week before last season’s playoff game and his subsequent subpar performance in said playoff game.
And who can forget his embarrassing antics – along with fellow idiot Josh Norman – in a game versus the Carolina Panthers two seasons ago?
And his other bizarre behavior with the kicking net? Oy vey…
Photo: NY Daily News
Odell’s ‘Hey, look at me!’ routine will get old as his career with the Giants progresses and people realize his salary hit is a burden on the team. Honestly, for many fans, this routine has already made many of them hold their noses and begrudgingly accept ODB’s behavior because of his on-the-field-production.
As a fan the Patriots are the enemy, but in the moments of objectivity and clarity clearly they do things the right way and have established how NFL teams should be operated. WWBD? Would Belichick let Odell get away with such nonsense? Would Bill allow him to occupy a roster spot?
Photo: Patriots Life
Looking back on the great Giant teams and championship seasons the wide receivers were at best role players and many of them could be described as journeymen NFL players. Their offensive lines and stout defenses, combined with strong and clutch quarterback play, allowed them to reach the pinnacle of the NFL. The argument can be made that most NFL championships are won with this formula and in the cases where great receivers were part of these teams; they were paired with a great quarterback.
So the Giants will pay Odell Beckham, Jr the Brat and will be stuck with him for years to come.
