The Reason Odell Beckham Jr. Missed Those Voluntary Workouts Was Because He Wants A New Contract? OMGGGGGGG
ESPN- Odell Beckham Jr.’s absence from the New York Giants’ organized team activities is directly related to the wide receiver’s desire for a new contract, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Beckham has been one of several Giants players who have missed the voluntary offseason workouts over the past few weeks. He does not have a financial bonus tied to attending the workouts this offseason.
On May 25, Beckham told the NFL Network that “I love my team and am excited about the season,” adding that he would “for sure” report to the Giants’ mandatory minicamp, which begins Tuesday. A source confirmed to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan that Beckham is expected to be at minicamp.
Holy shit! An NFL player that plays a sport where your brains can become soup and guaranteed money is harder to find than Roger Goodell’s conscience is looking to get paid what he’s worth?!? Well I never! You know it’s June when people start talking about NFL players missing volunteer workouts. Nonsensical stories getting play and going viral is the downside to the summer news cycle while the PMT boys chisel out Mount Rushmores weekly is the bright side.
Anyway back to Odell. Charlie Wisco did a good job blogging this story TWO WEEKS AGO when it happened. I said it then and I’ll say it again. While it would obviously be great if he had attended the voluntary workout and given Giants fans the week off from having to defend their most talented player, I’m fine with him missing something that was voluntary. Especially given Odell’s history of getting dinged up in the past. The biggest leverage an NFL player has with the CBA where some of the stars make as much as a relief pitcher is to sit out. If ODB returns for minicamp like he said he will, this whole stupid story will disappear and the media will have to come up with another hot button topic (probably involving Odell Beckham because you gotta get those clicks). Odell knows the Giants are already capped out to Neptune and probably want to make sure he doesn’t blow his hands off over the next month or so, hypothetically speaking, before starting negotiations on what I’m sure will be a veryyyyy big contract. Last I checked on Odell, he was getting his work in just fine.
And while people were putting Odell’s face on a milk carton and firing off their hot takes, another superduper talented player drafted exactly one pick after ODB did the same move while playing for a team in a major market, and I didn’t hear a fucking peep from all the experts about class and contracts on Twitter.
The Rams’ first day of OTA practice was notable for an absence, as star defensive lineman Aaron Donald stayed away from the optional work because of a contract-related matter.
Donald isn’t set to become a free agent any time soon. He has one season remaining on his rookie contract, and the Rams recently picked up the fifth-year option on that contract, for the 2018 season.
Donald is set to make $3.2 million this season and almost $7 million next season, but as one of the best defensive players in the NFL, at only age 25, Donald at some point will receive a massive raise.
Fuck the haters.
And now your moment of Ben.