New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t what’s wrong

You may not have loved his “dog” celebration against the Philadelphia Eagles, but Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t what’s ailing the New York Giants.

Nine receptions. 79 yards. A pair of touchdowns. Two catches in the end zone a plethora of wide receivers around the NFL couldn’t make, and one that could go down as the best touchdown reception of the season. Carrying a comeback made by the New York Giants versus a hated division rival in front of hostile fans on his back.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. achieved all of this against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, and yet some supposed New York fans are mad because he mimicked a dog relieving himself after scoring a touchdown.

On Monday, Beckham suggested he was responding to President Donald Trump referring to players kneeling or otherwise protesting during the national anthem “sons of b*****s” this past Friday. Those of us who don’t know Beckham cannot say, for sure, whether or not that is the case, but there’s little question the 24-year old raising a single fist in the air following his second score of the contest was political in nature.

It’s unfortunate Beckham’s urine-inspired antics cost the Giants 15 yards, but the reactions had by some after the showdown in Philadelphia are even more shameful. Steve Politi of NJ.com wrote Beckham’s celebration was “childish”, and he didn’t stop there:

"Is anyone surprised? The Giants lost six games last season. Beckham had some outburst during or after five of them. He started with the kicking-net incident against the Redskins, then was flagged for an out-of-bounds hit and bumped a ref in Minnesota, then he ripped the referees for “disrespecting” him after a rough day in Pittsburgh, and then he banged his head against a steel wall in Philadelphia."

For starters, Beckham explained after the game he believed he wouldn’t be flagged for his lifted leg. By all accounts, this wasn’t a case of a player doing whatever he wanted regardless of the consequences. That doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t repeat the celebration as a form of protest in the future, but discussions about that can be had at a later time.

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It’s also worth noting Beckham didn’t actually harm his team’s chances of winning. The New York defense sparked a turnover one play into Philadelphia’s next offensive drive, and Beckham then found the end zone a second time four plays later. He was also mugged for a pass interference penalty after he blew past the Philadelphia secondary down the right sideline for what could’ve been a third score had he not been taken down ahead of the ball reaching its target. If anything, his celebration breathed life into what has been a pitiful offense.

There’s plenty wrong with the Giants right now. Eli Manning isn’t playing well. The offensive line is a disaster, even though that unit performed admirably, for the most part, versus the Eagles, and it seems to be only a matter of time before left tackle Ereck Flowers is moved to a different position or benched. What was hoped to be an elite secondary has looked rather pedestrian the past eight quarters.

Beckham being flagged for a celebration he may regret 24 hours after the fact shouldn’t make the list of all that’s plaguing the Giants after three games. Not only that, but anybody who has actually convinced themselves New York losses can be blamed on Beckham should remember the dynamic playmaker saved no fewer than four games en route to deserving MVP votes last season.

Beckham remains an easy media target. He’s a superstar and a face of the NFL and of the Giants who knows he’s a special talent, and who will likely hold the team to ransom when the time comes to cash-in on a new contract. He’s emotional and eccentric and a bit of a diva during games. He’s a superstar who unapologetically plays by his own rules regardless of what critics think.

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Hot takes about the Giants are inevitable. What was hoped to be a championship-caliber team is 0-3, and New York’s playoff hopes may completely evaporate before Halloween. Anti-Beckham agendas likely aren’t disappearing if the Giants land some wins in October, and they won’t be any less silly so long as he continues to play at an All-Pro level.