OBJ NOT LIKELY A BLUE BLOOD
Beckham gets bookish on reaching agreement
Odell Beckham Jr. came back from California for Giants minicamp this week quoting a book titled “The Four Agreements,” but no, it is not the story of the four most lucrative NFL contract agreements of all time. Quite the opposite, Beckham’s new favorite read — and he has plenty of time on that plane, flying cross-country — is a guide to removing self-limits, a 1997 publication on ancient Toltec wisdom by Don Miguel Ruiz dubbed a “practical guide to personal freedom.”
Even Tom Brady swears by the book, so Beckham has to be doing something right.
And so Beckham, who is both self-motivated yet also under edict from the Giants to mature, has taken to this tome to draw wisdom that hopefully hones his focus and frees him to enjoy and excel.
And no, two of the agreements are not “Always work out with your shirt off” and “Perfect your Michael Jackson dance moves.” But they may add “Don’t Sail in Miami During a Playoff Week” to the prologue.
Here, then, are Ruiz’s Four Agreements and possible ways that the studious Beckham might apply them with new noise surrounding him on his contract and character:
l The First Agreement: Be Impeccable with your Word
Beckham’s friend Drake has mastered this one. Just kidding. The wisdom of the 10th-through12th centuries does not apply to freestyle rap. If it did, Beckham might have perfected it while on tour with the hip-hop star this offseason. (Or maybe Beckham already spits hot fire in the Giants’ locker room?) Instead, the first agreement stresses that a person should use his words to speak with integrity and say only what he means; to avoid speaking both against himself and gossiping about others; to use his word in the direction of truth. Well, Beckham appears to be stuck on this chapter, for on Tuesday while he portrayed himself as the picture of composure and respect to the media, he was quietly wearing cleats during practice with the names of media outlets crossed out in red, a sensitivity that could lead to Beckham’s violating Ruiz’s second agreement below. Beckham also double-talked around the pressing issue of his contract and then, of course, there is his use of Twitter and his retweet of an ESPN tweet about his contract. Beckham says a retweet can mean anything. This is sticky ground because Beckham wants to be true to himself, but posting a photo wearing shorts that reads “F--- Em!” on Instagram might be a bit too much truth, don’tcha think? One thing’s for sure: The Toltec civilization didn’t have social media in the year 1000 A.D., and it was better off for it.
l The Second Agreement: Don’t Take Anything Personally
This rule should be renamed The Josh Norman Principle. A great philosopher once said that when an angry cornerback baits you, you must resist spearing him in the head with your helmet. Or maybe no one said that. Tom Coughlin sure didn’t. Anyway, the principle dictates that nothing other people do is because of you but because of themselves. Norman presents the ultimate challenge. Beckham’s nemesis going back to their 2015 battle is still yapping entering his second year in Washington, most recently calling Beckham an immature “big kid” who “tries to be a tough guy” to Bleacher Report in May. Norman added: “I hope I don’t catch him outside. Let’s just say that.” Thanks to his new book, Beckham has the perfect comeback for those taunts, which could also be referred to as The Reverse-Seinfeld: “It’s not me, Josh; it’s you.”
l The Third Agreement: Don’t Make Assumptions
It is never safe to assume anything. Take the Giants’ offense last season. If you had assumed Ben McAdoo’s offense would be able to solve a base Cover-2 defense, you would have been wrong. This principle focuses on an important and appropriate word, though: drama. Assuming something is true can create misunderstanding, which leads to projecting or blaming, which creates “a whole big drama for nothing.” Drama is a word that is beginning to follow Beckham around more regularly, but it is not too late for him to shut it down and avoid joining the long list of star receivers whose assumptions about their critics, careers and talents either impeded or derailed their rises to greatness. Don’t assume, for example, that the storm doors in Philadelphia or the walls in Green Bay are out to get you. In all seriousness, you know what Beckham really can’t assume? That the Giants are going to pay him what he deserves. This principle teaches “to express what you really want.” Beckham wants a fair deal. He’s not even assuming the Giants don’t. Maybe he’ll bring his Four Agreements book in with him when he signs his new contract.
l The Fourth Agreement: Always Do Your Best
Beckham’s best catch: The one-handed snag against Dallas. Best squashed controversy: Shooting down rumors last July that he was dating Khloe Kardashian. Best blowup: The Norman fight. Best hair-do: the long blonde highlights. (Admit it, you know a kid on your block who walked into the barber shop and asked for “the Odell.”) Beckham’s best is better than most, which is why this principle could be the one he masters first: accepting that his best won’t be the same from one moment to the next due to a variety of factors, but if he does his best, he will avoid regret and self-judgment. The final lesson may have been his playoff dud in Green Bay in January. But hey, Tom Brady reads this book, and Foxborough wasn’t built in a day. Beckham’s best decision in the end may have been his decision to pick up The Four Agreements. Will he master them? Maybe not. But will he try? No disagreement there.