Lethbridge Herald

And Beckham Jr. agree to contract extension

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Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants is now the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver.

The Giants on Monday announced they have signed Beckham to a five-year contract extension that will keep the three-time Pro Bowler with the franchise for another six seasons.

“We got him until he’s 108,” general manager Dave Gettleman quipped. “I never worried whether or not we would get it done. I’m pleased, because the litmus test for a contract is that neither side is ticked off before the ink can dry, and neither side should be ticked off. It’s a very fair deal.”

The signing comes less than two weeks before the season opener against Jacksonvil­le on Sept. 9 at MetLife Stadium.

While terms were not disclosed, the deal with the 25year-old, 2014 first-rounder is worth about $95 million with $65 million guaranteed.

Beckham’s $19-million average salary would top the $17 million earned by Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers. His $95-million deal also tops the $82.5-million deal receiver Mike Evans has with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Beckham, who missed most of last season with a broken left ankle, was scheduled to make $8.4 million in the final year of his rookie contract.

Beckham had said early in training camp that he was taking a risk practising without a new contract. It paid off.

“Honestly, I don’t even know how to explain it,” Beckham said in a statement. “I don’t know if it’s a relief, I don’t know — it’s a combinatio­n of everything. You’ve worked all your life to get to this point and it’s finally here.”

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