GROW up, ODELL

McADOO, ELI SAY OBJ’S SIDELINE ANTICS BECOMING DISTRACTION

THERE are two ways to look at Odell Beckham Jr.’s latest ride on the emotional roller coaster. He cares so much and it means so much to him. Or he needs to chill out and grow up a bit

You know something is up when Eli Manning feels the need during the game to check in with his combustible receiver to find out what the heck is going on.

You know something is up when Ben McAdoo, the firstyear head coach, is using the dreaded ‘D’ word — as in distraction — to describe his prize receiver’s comportment.

Beckham early in the fourth quarter of the 29-27 loss to the Redskins was losing it on the sideline, moments after a Manning interception cost the Giants points as they trailed 26-24. Beckham was trudging around the bench, looking as if was about to burst. He took a swipe in anger and frustration at the kicking net, knocking it down and into his face, which actually was fairly comical. Twice, he actually appeared to be tearing up.

The Beckham fire burns bright, sometimes too bright. He did not let this outburst affect his performance on the field, as he pretty much dominated his individual matchup with Josh Norman. He caught seven passes for 121 yards and, according to Pro Football Focus, five of the receptions for 88 yards were directly against Norman.

There were moments when Beckham was operating at hyper-speed. Before Manning’s first interception, Beckham on three consecutive plays had a catch for 19 yards, a catch for 24 yards and was held by safety David Bruton for a 5-yard penalty. He was rolling and Manning should have gone to him again, instead of forcing the ball into tight end Will Tye.

Still, Beckham needs to keep it together.

“I thought between the white lines he controlled himself,” McAdoo said Monday. “Emotionally on the sideline, in between series, he needs to do a better job, that’s all of our responsibilities, mine included. But he needs to control his emotions better and be less of a distraction to himself and his teammates. It’s our job to help him with that process.’’ Who comes to Beckham’s aid? “It takes a village,’’ said McAdoo, who twice during the game spoke with Beckham about ramping it down.

Manning sees the behind-thescenes version of Beckham, sees the joy and intensity and work ethic. He sees everything else, as well.

“I thought he held his composure during the game,’’ Manning said Monday on WFAN. “He got a little fired up on the sideline one time and he just got to learn any little act that he does is gonna get blown up. He’s got to learn to keep it inside or just find a way to deal with it, come talk to me, see what’s on my mind. We’ll work on that just so it does not become a distraction after the game, we’re talking about football and not stuff that happens on the sidelines.’’ Again, the ‘D’ word. “It’s just a learning process with him,’’ Manning said. “He is an emotional guy. He plays hard, he practices, he does all the right things. He wants to go out there and have success and win games and make plays. I understand where it’s coming from.

“But he’s got to understand he can’t — when it becomes so public it can be a distraction.’’

There is too much drama here. Beckham already feels as if he is unfairly scrutinized and last week lamented, “They fine me for everything … they fine me for smiling.’’ No, they fine him when he goes off the rails, when he throws his body around like a missile, when he goes over the line and acts out.

He is one of the NFL’s greatest stars and social media darlings. There is no reason the league would in any way be out to get him. To watch Beckham off the camera is to see a young man who cannot stand still. He dances to the music blaring from the speakers or in his head. He does not walk, he bounces. He laughs, he jokes, he kids with his teammates. He is 100 miles an hour. The meltdown on the sideline was not a good look. He is only 23 years old and he needs to purge some of this from his system, if he can.