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Odell Beckham Jr: A Legend In The Making

By Mike Pendleton

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By definition, the word is legend is described as: “an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field” but in today’s society, anyone with great marketing can be “extremely famous”. Odell Beckham Jr. fits the bill of the definition, but he’s redefining the meaning of the word legend as an NFL wide receiver.

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Sure, with just 15 games played in his career it’s too early to put him in the Hall Of Fame or call him the best to ever play the position, what Beckham is doing with his career is extraordinary. In today’s age of social media Beckham was a superstar with just one play, the one-handed circus catch against the Dallas Cowboys last season that put him on the map.

Unlike many others, Beckham who missed four games with a hamstring injury to begin his career came back to show fans, opponents, and the New York Giants organization why they chose him in the first-round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

After returning from injury, Beckham went on to grab 91 receptions for 1,305 yards, and 12 touchdowns including one magical play against Dallas that we have all seen.

The highlighted catch propelled him into a spotlight that saw him all over the internet, on the cover of Madden 16, and  all over red carpets. His swagger is different, his mindset and demeanor as a football player is just the same as any high-level competitor in the league. Just because “OBJ” changed in the public eye, he hasn’t changed himself or his style as a football player.

That’s where the legend changes for Beckham. He wasn’t taken in as a one-play superstar, he continued to build every game and grew as a player not just a trend on social media. There are many players who can be defined by one play, but Odell Beckham has played every game since his mega highlight and produced as a top receiver.

Three games into his second season Beckham has 19 catches for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Combine his start to the 2015 season, and Odell Beckham Jr. has been the most productive wide receiver in NFL history through his first 15 career games.

Odell Beckham’s career is just getting started, and because of that, his extraordinary start should be taken for what it’s worth. He’s just getting into the groove of being a NFL superstar while being the top playmaker on his team, which should make Giants fans and Odell fans even more anxious to see what happens next.

There’s still so much more room to grow for OBJ and a lot more production he’ll have to show in order for him to be mentioned among the greatest receivers of all-time. He’ll need to add a Super Bowl ring to his resume if he truly wants to be in the discussion, but at least he’s changed the discussion.

The word legend is overused in today’s age of social media and public opinion, so while he’s not there yet and has plenty more to prove, Odell Beckham Jr. has made his career a must-follow, because he’s more than a cover boy, more than a NFL star who can dance, he’s a legend in the making.

Next: Will The New York Giants Sign Any Veteran Receivers?

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