Done with drama: Browns releasing WR Beckham
Odell Beckham Jr.’s run his last route for the Browns. He’s wide open now.
The polarizing wide receiver is being released by the Cleveland Browns, who are cutting ties with Beckham after a drama-filled stay that ended with him being told to stay home from practice.
Beckham’s unceremonious exit — not completely official — came on Friday, his 29th birthday, and a few days after his father shared a video on social media highlighting times when Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t throw passes to the three-time Pro Bowler.
It was a tipping point in the team’s often-unstable relationship with him.
The Browns didn’t appreciate the video or that Beckham didn’t reach out to Mayfield, who said he was willing to work things out.
Beckham was told not to report to practice for two days as his representation worked with Browns general manager Andrew Berry on agreeable financial terms for both sides in his departure.
“I don’t think anyone envisioned when the organization traded for Odell three years ago that this would really be the resolution,” Berry said. “It’s unfortunate, but at the same time there are some situations in the NFL where things just don’t quite work out and that’s where we are today.
“Those decisions are incredibly difficult, but at the end of the day it’s a decision that I felt was appropriate for our team.”
Once the sides finalize financial terms — Beckham is owed $8 million this season — Beckham will be waived and can be claimed by any team with enough salary-cap space. If he clears the waiver wire next week, he’ll be a free agent and can sign anywhere.
Beckham, who has been playing with a shoulder sprain for the past few weeks, had 17 catches for 232 yards and zero touchdowns in six games this season. He only had two 100-yard games in 29 with Cleveland.
■ COVID-19: The Arizona Cardinals will be without three assistant coaches for their game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of COVID-19 protocols.
Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers, running backs coach James Saxon and assistant offensive line coach Brian Natkin will not travel to the game.
The Cardinals might be short-handed on the field as well. Quarterback Kyler Murray (ankle) and star receiver DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) didn’t practice for a third straight day on Friday. Both are listed as questionable for Sunday.
Also on Friday, New York Giants injured running back Saquon Barkley and starting safety Xavier McKinney were taken off the COVID-19 list.
Barkley has missed the past three games with a sprained ankle sustained on Oct. 10 against Dallas. He will not play on Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders at MetLife Stadium because of the injury.
McKinney, who missed the last two days of practice while in the COVID protocol, practiced fully Friday and is expected to play in the Giants’ final game before their bye week.
Both players were placed on the COVID list on Wednesday after twice testing positive. The Giants subsequently found out the testing company was reporting many false positives and started using a more advanced test to confirm for the virus.
■ RAMS: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day could miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on an injured pectoral muscle.
Rams coach Sean McVay announced Friday that JosephDay has reaggravated the injury that caused him to miss the team’s last game against Houston. The fourth-year pro and three-year Rams starter needs surgery that will keep him out indefinitely.
Joseph-Day has three sacks and 38 tackles in seven starts this season.