THE QUESTION
JOHN Mara and Steve Tisch better give it a lot of thought before they piss away $100 million on Odell Beckham Jr. I hate to be so crass, but after Beckham’s disgraceful walking and peeing like a dog end zone act Sunday in Philly, exactly what will he do next and what are the Giants buying if they give Beckham a fiveyear, $100 million contract with $50 million guaranteed? They get an incredibly talented and unstoppable game changer, perhaps the best offensive player in team history and the most explosive force in the game today, but also a high-maintenance volatile diva with a flair for turning everything around him into can’t-miss but unnecessary drama. He damages the team with mefirst solo acts and then makes no apologies or promises he won’t do it again. $100 million for that? Really? Mara and Tisch, who have not commented on Beckham’s embarrassing be- havior on Sunday, can’t be happy with his latest act of immaturity. It has to be humiliating for the organization that prides itself on being classy to answer questions why its best player is making believe he’s urinating on the field.
After Beckham announced days before the opening of training camp in July that he wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid player — which won’t happen after Detroit signed quarterback Matthew Stafford to a record five-year $135 million deal — Mara responded by saying Beckham will get his but didn’t say how much. “He deserves to get paid. We’re going to pay him,” he said. “He’s going to get a long-term contract. He’s going to get paid a lot of money at the appropriate time.”
He was wise not to attach numbers to it. The Giants were also smart to make Beckham play out this year for the $1.8 million in the fourth year of his rookie contract so they could judge his behavior before deciding how much to invest in him. They picked up his $8.4 million option for 2018 and could then use the franchise tag in 2019 and 2020 before having to make a call on a multi-year deal. Unless he implodes, the Giants will likely sign him before the 2018 salary cap kicks in next March.
It would be much easier if Beckham not only was a great player but didn’t make it all about him and the Giants could reward him without worrying what is the next item in his repertoire he’s going to unveil to embarrass them. Beckham needs to work on the trust factor with the Giants.
Despite a mandate from GM Jerry Reese to grow up, Beckham continues to be a distraction and a lightning rod for controversy. After his first touchdown Sunday, he walked on all fours like a dog and lifted his right leg as if he was peeing. He refused to explain any symbolism after the game other than to say, “I’m a dog, so I acted like a dog.”
When it was suggested Monday on Twitter by a CNN editor that OBJ referred to himself as a dog because Donald Trump referred to any NFL player not standing for the national anthem as a “son of a bitch,” Beckham tweeted back: “If u seen that I have to tip my hat to u for thinkin outside the box. #URIGHTONPOINT impressed.”
What Trump said was disgraceful, but that does not condone what Beckham did, either. If Beckham’s dog show was a Trump protest — I have my doubts and believe he could have been looking for the first convenient excuse — he never came close to saying it after the game.
It was a classless response to a classless comment. There are peaceful protests that don’t take away from the game or cost 15 yards. Beckham’s attempt at delivering a statement was bizarre at best and did not come with an immediate explanation and for sure turned off fans and hurt the positive response to the arm locking and kneeling of other players Sunday in response to Trump.
After his second TD, Beckham raised his right fist but was reluctant to acknowledge it was meant to send a message on a day of unity. What does $100 million get you these days? The base sticker price gets a dynamic player, but the accessories are very costly. Such as: l When he turned his matchup against Josh Norman into a street brawl, used his head as a weapon when he hit Norman helmet-to-helmet and his three personal fouls contributed to him getting suspended the following game.
l His bizarre romance with the kicking net after he took off his helmet and shoved the net in frustration and it bounced back and hit him in the face, opening up a cut. A few weeks later, he proposed to the net.
l Losing his cool against Xavier Rhodes and getting into a scuffle. GM Jerry Reese had to babysit him in the locker room in Minnesota after the game.
l Banging his head against a metal garage door after a frustrating loss in Philadelphia.
l The ill-timed Miami boat trip one week before the first playoff game of his career.
l Punching a hole in the wall outside the locker room in Green Bay after the worst performance of his career in the playoff loss to the Packers.
l His urination demonstration in Philadelphia.
It’s puzzling why Ben McAdoo won’t even address Beckham pretending to pee in public other than saying he doesn’t want a penalty that forces the Giants to kick off from their own 20. He was pressed repeatedly on Monday to discuss what Beckman did, but said, “I gave you my response.” “You didn’t give a response,” he was told. Silence from McAdoo. Just like Tom Coughlin, who didn’t bench Beckham during his meltdown against Norman, McAdoo is afraid to criticize or discipline Beckham and is mesmerized by his talent. He is another Beckham enabler.
Randy Moss set the standard for unacceptable behavior when he faked pulling down his pants to moon the fans in Green Bay. Terrell Owens was a Hall of Fame distraction in the locker room, which has kept him out of the real Hall of Fame.
Beckham must decide if he wants to be Moss or T.O. or does he want to be Jerry Rice. He will be 25 in November. He’s old enough to make that decision.
Unless he grows up quickly, either the Giants or Beckham are going to piss away $100 million.