$19 million per year for Giants’ Beckham
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.
The deal is worth a reported $95 million, with $65 million guaranteed.
Beckham’s $19 million average salary would top the $17 million earned by Antonio Brown of the Steelers. Beckham’s $95 million deal also tops the $82.5 million deal receiver Mike Evans has with Tampa Bay.
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 practicing 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.”
In his first four seasons, Beckham has caught 313 passes for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns. Jags’ Lee done for ’18: Jacksonville receiver Marqise Lee will have season-ending knee surgery and be placed on injured reserve.
Lee, who led the team in receptions in 2017, was carted off the field Saturday night after Atlanta cornerback Damontae Kazee delivered a helmet-first hit to his knee. Tests confirmed what everyone in the stadium expected after seeing Lee’s knee buckle: The injury was severe. Briefly: The Falcons signed former Cal and Raiders kicker Giorgio Tavecchio to compete with Matt Bryant’s primary backup in the Thursday’s final preseason game. Tavecchio spent five years trying to make his NFL debut before Oakland gave him a chance last year. He went 16-for-21 and made three of four from 50 yards or more . ... The Patriots signed running backs Kenneth Farrow and Khalfani Muhammad (a Cal alum) and receiver K.J. Maye and waived defensive back Eddie Pleasant, who spent six seasons with Houston and signed with New England last month . ... Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck missed Monday’s practice with an injured foot. Head coach Frank Reich says Luck was hurt during Saturday’s victory over the 49ers and indicated it was a minor injury. He says Luck would play if the Colts had a regular-season game Sunday . ... Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said linebacker K.J. Wright might not be ready for the season opener at Denver after he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee . ... Head coach Steve Wilks says Arizona running back D.J. Foster is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL.