Odell Beckham Jr. Expresses Regret Over Giants Return: 'I Should Have Known Better'
The wide receiver voiced disappointment with his brief stint with the New York Giants, citing a sense of being used on a veteran minimum contract.
Odell Beckham Jr. has voiced his dissatisfaction with his recent, short-lived return to the New York Giants, stating that he feels the team used him on a contract that offered minimal financial benefit.
Beckham, who was released by the Giants on September 29, expressed his feelings publicly via a fan's Instagram account. He indicated that he believed the team benefited from his presence without a significant investment, despite his willingness to accept a veteran minimum deal. "They got me!!!" Beckham wrote in a reply, lamenting his decision.
"I'm super smart!!!! But I didn't see this one, my brotha," he continued. "They won on top of the money u talkin [about], I made them. I came in HUMBLY took vet min then EARNED my spot [and] didn’t say nothing bout no $$$ which I [know] make for everybody. Ima tell u this ima grown man and this [sh-t] didn’t hurt me but it did when they cut me like that cause part of me is like I shoulda known better."
Beckham signed a one-year deal worth $1.3 million, which allowed the Giants to pay him less than the veteran minimum due to a provision for players with his service time, and included no guaranteed money. The receiver accused the team of giving him "the run along," suggesting that this kept him from pursuing other opportunities during training camp, preseason, and the early part of the regular season.
"I [don't know] why they even gave me the run along. I [could have] really been playing this year somewhere and making [an] impact and I mean that from a person whose humbled by God and life," Beckham stated.
His return to the Giants, the team that originally drafted him in 2014, was initially viewed as a heartwarming homecoming. Beckham had previously expressed that he was happy to be back and did not seek to reclaim his former number 13 jersey. However, his on-field contribution was minimal, as he was targeted only once and caught zero passes in three games before his release.
Beckham also shared the personal impact of his release, particularly concerning his son. "Now let me [tell] u the [real] deal truth [that] hurt my heart to the core is [coming] home and seeing my son and how happy he was with no idea of what happened and talkin' [about] my job [and] jersey number 13 broke me [the f–k] down," he wrote.
Experts suggest that Beckham's public criticism of the Giants might complicate any future opportunities with NFL teams, as franchises are often hesitant to re-sign players who have openly spoken negatively about them. While the Giants could potentially consider Beckham again under certain circumstances, such as injuries to their receiving corps, his recent comments may have made that prospect less likely.