The Day

ALL GIANTS, INCLUDING OBJ, ATTEND SHURMUR'S MANDATORY MINICAMP

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Odell Beckham Jr. has been cleared to practice although the star New York Giants' receiver did little work in team periods at the opening of the first mandatory minicamp under new coach Pat Shurmur.

Beckham, who missed several voluntary practices in the final phase of organized team activities in the past month, looked good running pass routes Tuesday. He appeared to cut well testing the left ankle that was broken on Oct. 8 against the Chargers, sidelining him for the final 11 games.

Just the fact that Beckham was there entering the final year of his contract was a positive.

It was a good day overall for Shurmur and the Giants in terms of attendance. Everyone was there, including defensive tackle Damon Harrison who missed many of the OTA practices.

The practice was what one would expect from a team looking to make amends for the 3-13 season that led to the firing of second-year coach Ben McAdoo and longtime general manager Jerry Reese. The biggest interest centered around Beckham. He was there. The Giants also had no intention of pushing him.

Shurmur wasn't worried about Beckham's contract and how negotiatio­ns were proceeding. The 25-yearold three-time Pro Bowler has said he wants to be the NFL's highest-paid player, but whether that happens with him coming off a major injury remains to be seen. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, I look at a player that loves football, he's out there right now doing his thing and he wants to be here and as the coach and the player, that's what we talk about," Shurmur said.

Fellow receiver Sterling Shepard had no doubt Beckham would be ready for the season.

"I have never seen a guy work as hard as him and want it as much as him," Shepard said. "There is no doubt in my mind you'll be seeing 13 light it up in the stadium."

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