Giants star won’t back down from comments despite Mara criticism
It was 10 minutes of half-measures from Odell Beckham Jr. One moment he was taking responsibility for the Giants’ poor start and backing up under-siege quarterback Eli Manning, the next he was spreading the blame around, forgetting he started the firestorm in the first place, and partially attributing the off-the-field issues created by his controversial ESPN interview as a product of losing. Speaking for the first time since Giants owner John Mara ripped the interview, saying he needed to do more playing and less talking, Beckham addressed several hot-button topics and put it on himself to play better. But he wouldn’t backtrack, either, reiterating the stance he has taken since the comments were first made in the muchtalked-about Oct. 7 interview while sitting next to rapper Lil Wayne. “Never. I’ve said this all the time, I never have any regrets,” Beckham said Friday before practice as the 1-5 Giants prepared for their Monday night game in Atlanta. “Everything is an opportunity to learn. … I feel like I’ve grown since last year, but there’s still times where I find myself in a situation [like this].” Beckham, who signed a $95 million extension in late August, alternated between defending Manning and sidestepping questions about the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback who has come under fire. When asked specifically about Manning’s play, Beckham said, “I think we’re 1-5 and we need to start winning games. Everyone needs to pick it up.” He included himself in that and shot down a report the team’s receivers were growing frustrated with Manning, saying he “laughed” when he heard about it. “I don’t think that’s the case. I think guys are frustrated that we’re 1-5 and we’re losing,” Beckham said. “Everyone wants to win. That’s it.” Whenever they get in the huddle, he said he tells Manning: “Take me home, 10.” “Which to me, carries weight because he’s been there,” Beckham said. “He knows how to win. He’s the most prepared of anyone that I’ve ever seen.” But when Beckham was asked if Manning is the right guy to turn this season around, he said, “You got to ask him.” In the ESPN interview, when asked if the Giants have a quarterback problem Beckham said, “Uhh, I don’t know. I feel like, he’s not going to get out of the pocket. We know Eli’s not going to run it. Can he still throw it? Yeah. It’s cool catching it shallow and trying to take it, but I want to go over the top of somebody.”
As far as Mara, Beckham said Friday, “I respect and value his opinion, obviously.”
The two have yet to sit down to further discuss their back-and-forth, and have just spoken briefly about it. Despite valuing the owner’s opinion that he needs to talk less and produce more, Beckham still doesn’t regret the inflammatory interview even though he was fined by the team.
“It is what it is, just take it on the chin,” he said of the hit to his wallet. “It’s unfortunate. I think the extracurricular stuff comes with losing. We know what it’s like when you’re losing, especially when you’re losing here. I’m sure if we were winning, it would be different, but that’s not the case.”
He was perfectly clear that his own performance has to improve. Through six games, Beckham has caught 45 passes for 506 yards and a touchdown. This would seem like the perfect week for a breakout. The Falcons have the 30th-ranked pass defense and are allowing 32 points per game.
“I need to play better. I can’t say I’ve had my best games,” Beckham said. “I can’t say that I’ve done enough to help this team win. I need to do more.”