Beckham Upset With Losing
Also Weary Of PED Tests
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Odell Beckham Jr. is sick of losing and frustrated with seemingly being asked to take tests every other week by the NFL for performance-enhancers.
Beckham tweeted about the tests Thursday before the Giants (0-2) practiced for Sunday's game in Houston against the Texans (0-2).
“It's actually funny how I ‘randomly' get tested every other week,” Beckham wrote. “Dear (at)NFL please stop sending these people, ur takin away from meeting times and film thanks.”
Beckham has never been suspended by the league for using a banned substance.
As far as losing, Beckham hasn't been on the field for a win since the end of the 2016 season. He was hurt in Game 5 last year, breaking his ankle against the Chargers.
There are limits to the amount of times a player can be tested.
Under the 2018 NFL Policy on Performance Enhancing Substances, the program is run by an independent administrator. A computer randomly picks up to 10 players a week to be tested.
Players may have their urine and/or blood tested a maximum of 24 times annually for reasonable cause. Offseason tests are limited to a maximum of six urine and/or blood tests per player.
Once informed they have been chosen for testing, players have three hours to submit a sample.
The program was set up in collective bargaining between the league and the NFL Players Association.
Hours after his tweet, Beckham seemed more tolerant about the tests, which he said were for performance-enhancers.
“Yeah, that's like steroids. I'm looking big!” said the 25-year-old who recently became the NFL's highestpaid receiver. “This is like performance-enhancing stuff. I pretty much get tested every week. I'll just take it as a compliment.”
Beckham had had an up-and-down season in returning from his injury. He had 11 catches in the opener against Jacksonville and was limited to four against Dallas this past weekend.
“It's tough, but I think that's the part where I've grown up the most, is just being able to stay in it and know that it's always one play that's right there,” he said. ... CB Eli Apple (hamstring) and LB Olivier Vernon (high ankle sprain) did not practice. It seems un- likely they will play this weekend. LB Connor Barwin (knee) and TE Evan Engram (ankle) were both back on a limited basis and are expected to play Sunday.
CB Cyrus Jones Makes AReturn
Cyrus Jones was sure his tenure with the Patriots was over when he was cut at the end of training camp earlier this month.
New England chose to sever ties with the cornerback and return man, a second-round pick in 2016, after an underwhelming two-year tenure.
It included fumble issues and a right knee injury that caused him to miss the 2017 season.
It is why Jones said he was “blown away” when he got a call from his agent Monday night saying that the Patriots wanted to resign him.
A deal was completed, and Jones was added to the 53-man roster on Wednesday. He practiced for the first time with his old team Thursday.
“Everybody was excited to see me, as I was excited to see them,” said Jones, who had been on the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad since being released by New England.
Jones has been working with the safeties since his return, a position that took a hit when starter Patrick Chung suffered a concussion during New England's loss at Jacksonville.
Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon and Nate Ebner — a primary special teamer — are the only other safeties on the depth chart. So, if Chung isn't cleared to play this weekend against Detroit, the chances are high that Jones will see at least some action.