Odell Beckham Jr. joining the Cleveland Browns is the best thing that could've happened to him. I might be in the minority with that opinion, but the chance to leave the New York Giants and join longtime friend Jarvis Landry is must-see football for years to come. Plus, Beckham finally steps out of the worst marriage in all of sports.
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Right up until OBJ was traded, the jaded Giants acted like everything was great in The Big Apple. If you've missed the last two seasons, that couldn't be further from the truth. They have the reanimated corpse of Eli Manning at quarterback, a half-built offensive line, and a below-average defense. The franchise's pride and joy is second-year running back Saquon Barkley, who could fall for the same trap that the G-Men laid for their former star wide receiver.
"We didn't sign him to trade him, if that's what you're asking," Giants General Manager Dave Gettleman said on January 2.
"We didn't sign Odell to trade him. That's all I need to say about that," Gettleman reiterated on February 27 at the NFL Scouting Combine.
On March 13, Gettleman traded him anyways.
Cleveland received a first-round pick (No. 17 overall) and third-round pick (No. 95) in the 2019 NFL Draft, plus starting safety Jabrill Peppers, a former No. 25 overall pick himself. There was no grand thank you or sendoff of any kind. Both Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur were indifferent to the media, as Shurmur simply called it "good for both parties."
To his credit, OBJ bit his tongue and accepted the reality of the trade. He's largely been reserved in his public statements since then, applauding and thanking the Cleveland Browns, flattering new quarterback Baker Mayfield, and reconnecting with Landry for the first time since their days as LSU Tigers.
Finally, Beckham answered questions from "alllll the haters out there" in an off-the-cuff, unscripted, live-in-living-color Twitter rant on Monday night.
OBJ began replying to positive comments, even saying to one Twitter user that he "won't be coming back" to New York. I think that one was obvious, though.
LISTEN PSA.... I am having one of the best days of my life ! I have gotten some of the greatest newssss!! Sooo don’t play wit me cause I’m shoootin back, for alllll the haters out there that want a response !! TODAY IS THE DAY MY FRIEND
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 22, 2019
Im not upset in ANY way about where I landed. But outta respect what they did , was crazy! And beyond disrespectful ! I wanted nothin but the best for NY. But on to a new chapter.... ITS LIFE
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 22, 2019
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After about 45 minutes, Beckham decides he's had enough and says, "Ok I'm done !!! Prayers up for changes for all the people out there that aren't happy with where they are at today !!! Spread love everywhere u can! Back to these workouts."
If OBJ learned anything from his time with the New York Giants, it's that saying something in no way means that you're actually going to do it.
For the next hour and 46 minutes, OBJ continued to tweet another 25 times responding to various jabs, critiques and even praise that came his way from fans from all over the NFL.
Ask the coach .... I beggged him to go to each and every one of those games actually for my teamatws and to be on the sideline for the home games... he told me “No”.... anything else sir. (That’s to whoever tweeted askin why I didn’t travel while I was hurt....) next
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 23, 2019
“We didn’t sign him to trade him...” you don’t get married to get a divorce ... I tried my best , the situation I had been in since I got there never changed ... we were still losing. PERIOD... money doesn’t bring happiness brotha... remember that
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 23, 2019
Ask any one of my teammates of who I was as a teammates and a man and a person.... yes I’m cancer to a place that’s ok wit losing because I want to win that BADDD. Ur absolutely correct !
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 23, 2019
And we lost but of 20 points.... halftime Hail Mary.. packs on the road. There no victim role , I had a terrible game . Wit not many opportunities to do anything as well. I’m a man. I don’t neeed to hide. How many play off games have u had???
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 23, 2019
ANYWAYSSSSSS I said what I said and I stand on that !!! 🗣🗣 to all the positive people out there let’s keep inspiring each other ! Bless y’all, and LUV forever
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 23, 2019
On the field, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is an absolute game changer. He's the fastest player to reach 100, 150, 200 and 250 catches. He's the fastest player to reach 5,000 career receiving yards, and he's the only player in NFL history with 1,300+ receiving yards while playing 12 or fewer games in a season, which he did as a rookie. At 26 years old, he's only going to get better as the three-time Pro Bowl selection enters his prime.
Off the field, Beckham is a classic diva wide receiver who wants the ball, and more importantly, the spotlight.
Beckham made some mistakes trying to get out of New York, but this rant was justified from every angle. He has a right to gripe about how the Giants front office conducted their business with him. The Giants haven't won the NFC East in eight years and have one playoff appearance since their 2011 Super Bowl. They're lost and trying desperately to turn the franchise around.
The Browns won this trade by a landslide and the season hasn't even begun.
