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New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr. is Not the Problem

By Nikhil Potpally

Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. attends the game between the Oregon Ducks and the North Carolina Tar Heels in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. attends the game between the Oregon Ducks and the North Carolina Tar Heels in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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After Odell Beckham Jr. was not present for the New York Giants’ Organized Team Activities, he received much backlash from the public for his actions. Some fans even went as far as calling him a problem to the team. This criticism could not be any further from the truth.

Each offseason, teams hold Organized Team Activity (OTA) practices to signify the unofficial beginning of next season. As agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreement, participation in OTAs is voluntary.

Although they are not mandatory, most players attend them as a display of commitment to their team. When the media reported that Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t attend and was working out with Johnny Manziel instead, fans went berserk.

Some fans went as far as demanding the Giants to trade Beckham, citing his repeated childish actions and lack of OTA attendance as reasons to get rid of him. They view Beckham as a problem, and their judgement could not be more clouded.

Yes, I agree it looks bad for Beckham not to be present at some of the OTAs, but we need to give this man a break. He wasn’t vacationing.

Rather, he was conducting his own exercise routine in another state. I question his choice of working out with Johnny Football over Eli Manning, but do not question his commitment to football.

What Beckham needs to do a better job of is learning that he is a lightning rod to the media. His actions are magnified, and a misstep causes the New York fanbase to go crazy.

When pictures of him partying with Iggy Azalea emerge, fans assume the worst. Especially when he dropped several passes and punched a hole in the wall in his first ever playoff game.

But calling Beckham a problem and demanding he gets punished or traded is where I draw the line.

With already 288 receptions for 4122 yards and 35 touchdowns, Beckham is on his way to becoming the best wide receiver in New York Giants history. He is the reason Jerry Reese still has his job. He is the reason Ben McAdoo was promoted to head coach.

Without Beckham, the Giants’ offense would be an even bigger joke than it was last year. The Giants had Shane Vereen, Rashad Jennings, Victor Cruz, and Sterling Shepard but couldn’t score 30 points until the last game of the season. The Giants made the playoffs in 2016 because of two reasons: their defense and Odell Beckham.

If Beckham was gone, fans would rush Reese and McAdoo out the door before you could even blink. Beckham detracts attention away from the terrible offensive line and even worse offensive playcalling. Instead of criticizing the personnel depth or why McAdoo still calls plays, fans criticize Beckham missing voluntary workouts.

Fans worry that Beckham will turn into Jeremy Shockey, but I don’t think that’ll happen because he is much better player than Shockey was. Unless Beckham starts missing mandatory events or starts committing crimes, there should be no cause for concern.

Quite frankly, I don’t care whether Beckham trains in L.A. or participates in voluntary OTAs. As long as he’s ready for Week 1 and beyond, I know that he is not the problem on the field.

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