NFL Media: Can We All Just Cut Odell Beckham Jr. a Break?

No matter what Odell Beckham Jr. does, the media is all over him. It may be time to cut the kid some slack.

As Odell Beckham Jr. put it himself, “I mean, everything’s a distraction that I do.”

Odell Beckham Jr. is a superstar. He’s one of the most well-known players in the NFL today.

Kids around the world imitate his catch against Dallas. I remember running around my college dorm with my roommate after that catch like it was yesterday.

Beckham Jr. makes the impossible look routine and could have the best hands we’ve ever seen in the NFL.

Through his first three seasons, Odell has built up a reputation as one of, if not the best wide receiver in the game.

The result? A target on his back and a swarm of media covering his every move.

Maybe it’s time we let the 24-year-old live his life.

Odell Beckham Jr. Skips OTAs

Wait…Odell skipped the voluntary OTAs?? How dare he exercise his right to sit out OTAs???

The big story in late May and early June was the fact that Odell Beckham Jr. did not show up to Giants OTAs.

Did anyone talk about Olivier Vernon skipping the voluntary workouts? I didn’t even know OV wasn’t in attendance for OTAs until he showed up for minicamp. And that was only because he showed up with Odell.

Jason Peters and Fletcher Cox of the Philadelphia Eagles did not attend OTAs. Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald sat out the first stage of the NFL preseason. Kansas City Chiefs stars Eric Berry, Justin Houston, and Marcus Peters were all no shows. As KC quarterback Alex Smith said, “It’s voluntary, right?”

All NFL players, including Odell Beckham Jr., are within their rights to stay home during their teams’ OTAs.

So why did Odell take so much heat for skipping out? It’s not like he was sitting on his couch eating potato chips. Beckham Jr. was working out in Los Angeles.

Obviously, everyone can improve, but Odell Beckham Jr. most likely doesn’t need OTAs. Anyone who says they think OBJ missing OTAs will affect his 2017 season is lying to you.

Beckham Jr. showed up a day early to minicamp and has hit the ground running. Stop complaining about the time that he’s not on the field and start enjoying the time that he is.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 11: New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

New York Giants Wide Receiver Wants to Be Highest-Paid Player in the NFL

A video came out on uninterrupted.com in which Odell Beckham Jr. expressed his desire to be, “not just the highest-paid receiver in the league, but the highest paid, period.”

This caused quite a stir around the league, as the highest-paid player in the league is generally a quarterback.

In fact, when it comes to 2017 Cap Hits, quarterbacks make up the top four and eight of the top ten. The top cap hit for a wide receiver, Dez Bryant, ranks 21st overall.

So yes, Odell’s desire to be the highest-paid player in the NFL is a little outlandish and likely won’t come to fruition. However, what’s the problem with wanting to be the highest-paid person in your profession?

Deep down, we all want to be the highest-paid person in whatever field we work in.

The issue people have is hearing a millionaire ask for more money, which is understandable. However, if you take a look at Odell’s career earnings from just the New York Giants, his request doesn’t seem as ridiculous.

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After this season, Beckham Jr. will have played out the four-year rookie contract he signed in 2014. When the year is over, Odell will have made $10,406,198 over the life of his contract. The 24-year-old also has a $8,459,000 team option that the Giants picked up for 2018, but in the NFL, the next season is never guaranteed.

Odell’s $3,311,063 cap hit in 2017 will rank just 46th among NFL wide receivers and 429th among all NFL players. Yes, $3 million is a lot of money, but in NFL terms, Beckham Jr. is grossly underpaid.

Odell Beckham Jr. also believes that NFL players are underpaid as a whole. Honestly, he’s not wrong.

OBJ compared NFL contracts with those in the NBA, which have become insane in the last few years.

J.J. Redick just signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for $23,000,000! J.J. Redick, the white guy who essentially shoots three-point jumpers for a living, will have a higher cap hit in 2017 than every player in the NFL expect Matt Ryan, Kirk Cousins, Carson Palmer, and Joe Flacco!

You can’t possibly tell me that is justified. NFL players put their lives at risk every time they strap on their helmets and hit the field, yet make a fraction of NBA players’ salaries.

If Odell is truly trying to start a movement to increase NFL players’ salaries, good for him. A change is needed and it needs to come from the players.

If Beckham Jr. just wants more money, then who are we to judge? He’s earned it. He’s not worthy of the richest contract in the entire NFL, but making him the highest-paid wide receiver is a fair argument.

We love to join the media and jump down athletes’ throats whenever they speak their minds, especially when it’s regarding a desired pay raise.

OBJ has earned that pay raise and he has a platform that allows him to speak his mind.

America spends billions of dollars watching Odell Beckham Jr. play and buying his jersey, yet has a problem when he wants a bigger piece of the pie.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 18: Odell Beckham (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Let OBJ Be OBJ

Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the great young talents in today’s NFL. And despite some of his antics, OBJ is not a bad guy.

Yes, he’s made some mistakes, but he’s just 24 years old. He’s still learning and maturing. Just think of all the mistakes you made in your early-20s. The difference is, all of Odell’s mistakes have been broadcasted across the world.

Let’s focus less on what he’s doing with his mouth and more on what he’s doing with his hands, legs, and feet.

Next: New York Giants 2017 Opponent Overview: Week Five

Odell Beckham Jr. is a highlight reel waiting to happen. He turns slants into 80-yard touchdowns, overthrown balls into absurd one-handed catches, and top cover corners into dust.

It’s time to cut OBJ a break. Just sit back and enjoy what is on pace to be one of the greatest careers from a wide receiver we’ve ever seen.

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