New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. doesn’t yet deserve to be compared to perceived troublemakers such as Terrell Owens or Jeremy Shockey.
Those who follow the New York Giants know all about the ups and downs experienced by third-year wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 2016 NFL season. Beckham failed to notch a single touchdown in four-straight games before he found the end zone in New York’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.
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The dynamic playmaker became visibly frustrated on the field during games on multiple occasions. Beckham engaged with defensive backs and drew penalties, he earned himself a bad reputation among officials throughout the league, and he had what became an infamous encounter with a kicking net.
Nobody can deny Beckham’s superstar talent, but the trend of Beckham causing distractions before and during games became a bit worrisome earlier this fall. WFAN radio host Mike Francesa lashed out at Beckham on his show several times over the past couple of months. Paul Schwartz of the New York Post compared Beckham to former New York tight end Jeremy Shockey back in October. Gary Myers of the New York Daily News wrote in late September that Beckham “is steadily approaching Terrell Owens status.”
Let’s not say and write things we can’t take back.
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No disrespect meant to Shockey, but he was never close to Beckham as it pertains to talent and the ability to take the ball to the house from anywhere on the field. Shockey was never Rob Gronkowski, let alone a home-run hitter like Beckham. And those who would say otherwise are looking at Shockey’s tenure with the Giants through (big) blue-colored glasses.
The hot take floated out there throughout the past nine years is that the Giants improved once Shockey experienced a season-ending injury in December 2007. You’ll remember, New York went on to win the Super Bowl the subsequent February. Don’t forget quarterback Eli Manning, still in the early stages of his career that December, had wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Steve Smith and also tight end Kevin Boss in the lineup when Shockey went down.
Shockey was never New York’s top offensive player in 2007. But in comparison to Beckham, the latter dwarfs the tight ends in terms of production. Michael Eisen of Giants.com broke down the receiver’s record-setting pace following New York’s win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14.
Eisen noted that Beckham’s 61-yard score against Dallas was his 10th touchdown of 50 yards or more and ninth that went 60 yards or more, all coming in just 40 career games and giving him the highest mark in the league since 2014. Moreover, OBJ is approaching Harlon Hill’s NFL records of 10 touchdowns of 60 yards or more in three seasons and 12 touchdowns of 50 yards or more. Randy Moss also sits ahead of Beckham in the latter category with 11. As for the Giants, he’s already set the franchise record-high marks in each regard.
Could Beckham one day become T.O. 2.0? It’s possible, and that thought should concern New York head coach Ben McAdoo and the Giants front office.
Those daring to even suggest the Giants should consider trading Beckham at some point between now and the start of next season, before the club has to think about paying him beyond his rookie deal, should remember Beckham is still only 24 years old. We don’t know how good he’ll be once he enters his physical prime, nor can we say, with any certainty, how he will mature physically, psychologically and emotionally over the next several years.
It’s also worth noting Beckham becoming the next Terrell Owens on the field wouldn’t be the worst thing for anybody involved. It was Owens who returned early from a serious injury and put the Philadelphia Eagles on his back during a Super Bowl contest versus the New England Patriots. Owens scored a touchdown in that 2008 playoff game between the Giants and Cowboys, and the outspoken wideout wasn’t the one responsible for the costly interception thrown to R.W. McQuarters late in that contest.
Owens is, at worst, one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history and he should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame by now. Such discussions are for different times, however.
The Giants currently have no reason to make any major decision regarding Beckham’s long-term future with the club. Per Spotrac, the Giants own Beckham’s rights through the 2018 season as long as the club picks up his fifth-year option. New York could then use the franchise tag to keep Beckham through the end of the decade before having to guarantee him any significant amount of money.
Beckham is hardly a perfect player or perfect teammate. He drops too many passes and it sometimes feels as if he is more concerned with posting stats than with helping the Giants do whatever necessary to win games.
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It is on Beckham to prove he is neither Shockey nor Owens, but Beckham, fortunately, has a solid support group around him. That group includes a two-time Super Bowl MVP as his quarterback and fellow wide receiver, Victor Cruz.Cruz has seen the highest of highs and lowest of lows during his NFL career.
All things considered, Beckham may be the best player the Giants have drafted since Manning. Yes, Beckham truly is that special, as he has the goods to become a once-in-a-generation talent. Beckham remains a work in progress as a player and a person, and critics need to realize this before comparing him with supposed team-killers from the past.