As great as he was on the field, Odell Beckham never was completely embraced by the Giants fan base.
He was often injured. He was outspoken. He did things his way. And the team didn’t win as often as it did before he arrived, whether coincidence or blameworthy.
The trade to the Browns was supposed to represent a fresh start for Beckham, who says he never has been happier. The notoriously thin-skinned wide receiver also took some shots at the Giants culture after feeling slighted by general manager Dave Gettleman’s big-picture remark about team culture in an exclusive interview with NJ Advance Media.
But Beckham did not show up for the first day of the Browns voluntary minicamp Tuesday, as first reported by Cleveland.com.
In 2017, Beckham was absent from the full Giants’ voluntary program, perhaps sending a message about wanting a contract extension. In 2018, he was an almost-full participant after a coaching change, despite still waiting on that new contract.
Beckham’s former Giants coach, Tom Coughlin, recently got in hot water for criticizing Jaguars players like Jalen Ramsey who do not show up for voluntary workouts. His new coach, Freddie Kitchens, says he is OK with it because it is “voluntary” in the CBA.
Here is a sampling of what fans are saying in the Cleveland.com comments section, where he is being unfairly compared to attention-getting bust Johnny Manziel. As was the case during five years with the Giants, he has his vocal supporters and detractors:
- “I wouldn’t have cared if he attended or not, but hanging out in LA and tweeting about your former team is only going to give fodder to OBJ’s critics. He should know better.”
- “OBJ missing non-mandatory OTAs....no big deal...it’s his history (same with the Giants)....he’ll continue to be one of the best, if not the best, WRs in the NFL....!”
- “Being a great player is one thing, helping a team win is another.”
- "I don’t care if he flies in from LA to attend games and leaves right after. If he does what he’s supposed to on the field, have him skip preseason too. "
- “Winning means so much to Beckham that he thought it was more important to talk about it while in LA than actually do something about it in Cleveland.”
- “Another Johnny Football circus. Every question in every press conference will be about OBJ. A distraction a young team and new coach don’t need. He is a great talent but the trade was a mistake. Hope I’m wrong. Go Browns.”
- “Nice first impression. How long before his teammates get tired of his sense of entitlement?”
- “Just have that feeling that this guy is going to be a real problem. At least have the class to be here and see what’s going on with your teammates.”
- “Does the league allow PrimaDonna on the back of the jersey instead of Beckham?”
- “Yes it’s voluntary, however, you are on a completely new team with a new offense and new QB to build rapport with but apparently tweeting about his former team while in LA takes precedence.”
- “Lifelong Browns fan and will be forever but I think this guy is going to be trouble ….. he’s uncoachable like LBJ but he has tremendous individual talent and its his way or the highway just like James …… get rid of him ASAP for several talented players.”
- “You can minimize it all you want, he as a self professed leader, and guy that wants to win more than anyone , should have proved it by showing up. Instead, he was too busy tweeting about his old team.”
- “Don’t know about teammates but I’m already sick of it. I have a buck that says he is injured and done for the year before the 1/2 way mark of the season.”
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.