Eli: OBJ ‘trying to get better’

Eli Manning was not caught off-guard when Odell Beckham Jr. eschewed the Giants’ OTAs last month, nor was the veteran quarterback bothered by Beckham working out on his own in California.

“Odell and I, we talk constantly, and he’s up front with me about what his plans are, when he’s going to be there and what he needs to do to get better,’’ Manning said Tuesday on “The Jim Rome Show” on CBS Sports Radio.

“I promote him in doing whatever it takes for him to be at his best and for that, he thought he needed to be training on his own in California to get his workouts, to make sure he’s healthy and ready to go for the upcoming season.”

Manning said Beckham — entering his fourth year in the NFL — knows how to prepare for a season.

“The guy’s a workhorse,’’ Manning said. “He loves the training. He knows his body, he knows what he’s got to do to get ready and so he felt this was the best way for him to get prepared. Sometimes as athletes, you know your body better than anyone else. You know what you need to do to get in the best shape and get the most work and that’s what he felt, and you have to support the guy, because he is working. He is doing the right things, and he is trying to get better.”

Beckham did not attend any of the 10 OTAs but he did work with Manning in April and also was on the field for the three-day mandatory minicamp this month. The Giants report to training camp July 27.

“He’s a guy, he knows the offense, he’s a great practice guy, he’s got a great work ethic,’’ Manning said, “and we got plenty of time to get on the same page and work on things and have a big year.”