New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr. still team MVP

The New York Giants are not even a .500 team without wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., a fact proven during the team’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. should enter a holdout immediately. The 24-year old should literally refuse to take the field for Big Blue again until the club guarantees him millions upon millions of dollars in a deal that should, theoretically, keep him a member of the Giants through the remainder of the decade, at the very least. Beckham should probably be the highest-paid receiver in the NFL before Week 2 of the 2017 campaign begins.

That, above anything else, is the biggest takeaway from the Giants’ disappointing 19-3 defeat to division rivals the Dallas Cowboys on the first Sunday night of the season. Granted, Beckham alone wouldn’t have solved all of New York’s woes at AT&T Stadium. He wouldn’t have bolstered what was a putrid offensive line. He wouldn’t have made quarterback Eli Manning more accurate in certain instances. It’s possible the Giants would’ve still lost had Beckham not experienced an ankle sprain during a meaningless preseason contest several weeks ago.

With all that said, anybody who still doesn’t believe Beckham holds power as it pertains to his future is living in a world that does not exist. The New York offense was a catastrophe versus Dallas, a unit unable to produce much, of anything, and one incapable of performing even the most basic feats against what is, on paper, a rather ordinary defense.

There’s plenty of blame to go around. The play-calling was suspect, particularly when the Giants actually managed to threaten to score. Free-agent acquisition Brandon Marshall was largely an invisible man, and he was entirely ineffective whenever he managed to get open for more than a few seconds. New York averaged a paltry 2.9 rushing yards per carry, a number that looks better than the team’s true production on the ground considering receiver Sterling Shepard picked up six yards on a single attempt.

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Beckham’s presence on the field could’ve altered things, if only because he gives a defensive coordinator that much more to think about. Even without explosive speed, he’s still capable of reeling-in passes the likes of Marshall and Shepard can’t grab. When he’s lined up on the field, logic suggests Marshall, Shepard and rookie tight end Evan Engram will face more favorable match-ups. You don’t need to watch All-22 film to understand this concept.

What some may not have realized before 8:25 p.m. ET on Sunday night is how Beckham’s absence would hover over the offense like a boulder-sized weight the 11 individuals tasked with facing the Dallas defense couldn’t carry. The unit had zero chemistry. There were times when it seemed Manning had never worked with Marshall or Engram before flying to Dallas.

Last January, the idea Beckham deserved MVP votes ahead of quarterbacks such as Matt Ryan and Tom Brady was scoffed at by those who almost always select signal-callers to earn such honors. Sunday night’s game in Texas served as a painful reminder for all who watched the 2016 Giants that Beckham saved that squad in no fewer than four games. It’s not an overstatement to suggest that 11-5 team would’ve gone 7-9 without Beckham.

Beckham’s ability to make acrobatic catches and his athleticism that allows him to take the ball to the house from just about anywhere on the field are never lost on commentators, observer or fan. What some forget, though, is Beckham serves as a security blanket for Manning. Manning has always required this type of weapon to be his best. Plaxico Burress, a healthy Hakeem Nicks and Beckham have all played this role.

Is age catching up with Manning? It’s possible. Before unleashing hot takes about his supposed decreasing fastball or the fact he seemed jittery while running for his life after routinely being betrayed by his offensive line, let’s first witness Manning playing alongside his favorite and most-gifted weapon before we offer deep analysis.

Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Week 2

Beckham is still signed through the 2018 season, and the Giants could always utilize the franchise tag to retain his rights another year. If, or maybe when, Beckham does decide to take some time away from the Giants in an attempt to negotiate a contract that earns him the money he deserves, fans should remember Big Blue’s pitiful performance in Dallas before they dare get angry at a young man who needs to look out for No. 1.

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