The New York Giants pulled the trigger on superstar WR Odell Beckham, Jr.’s fifth year option on Monday, assuring the enigmatic wideout will be under their employ through the 2018 season. In conjunction with that news, OBJ made a pledge to the Giants and their fans that he will be committed to being the best that he can be.
“Just wanna say today I woke up feeling extremely blessed. The start of a new chapter in my life began this [past] week,” Beckham wrote on his verified Twitter account, @OBJ_3. “I will be workin harder than I ever have, to be the best that I ever have been. I’m more motivated now then I have ever been.”
“Words are only that, so [it’s] time for action,” he went on. “To the LOYAL Giants fans out there. I’m lettin u kno now, this will be somethin uve never seen. I’m in the lab. Head down, my fire has been lit and the world continues to fuel it. It’s time to be exactly who u are, I’m goin for it all….Stay tuned. Stay Blessed. #ImOffTheGrid.”
We’ll, he has been something we’ve never seen before. In his three seasons with the Giants, OBJ is the first Giants player to to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons since LB Lawrence Taylor (1981-3). Beckham and his former LSU teammate, Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins, fare tied for the most receptions by a player in their first three seasons (288), shattering the previous record of 260 held by A.J. Green of the Cincinnati Bengals. OBJ has four receptions of 75 yards or more, which is second behind Homer Jones (six) in Giants’ history and his 35 TD receptions are the most in the NFL since the start of the 2014 season.
Even with all of Beckham’s on-field problems, such as fights, tantrums, egregious penalties and dropped passes, it was a no-brainer for GM Jerry Reese to reinvest in his former first round pick for an additional season, and possibly beyond.
“I think he is a guy that hears what we are saying and like John (Mara) said, ‘We are not worried about Odell.’”, Reese said last week. “He is a young kid, he is growing up every day and we think that he is going to continue being a tremendous football player and a tremendous representative of our organization here.”
RB LeGarrette Blount is still on the Giants’ radar. As per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Blount, who rushed for 1,161 yards and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (18) in 2016 with the New England Patriots, is still without a team as the NFL Draft approaches.
The next running back domino to watch: LeGarrette Blount and the #Giants. There is mutual interest there. A potential match before the draft
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2017
The Giants have a full stable of running backs but no one who can push the pile like Blount can. The Patriots do not seem to be interested in bringing Blount back at this time. They have moved on by signing two younger backs – Cincinnati’s Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee of the Bills.
The Giants may wait until after the draft and to turn to Blount, but it is a situation that warrants monitoring.