Odell Beckham Jr. Wants To Be NFL's Highest-Paid Player
In a recent interview, New York Giants star wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. said he wants to be, not the highest paid receiver in the league, but the highest paid player in the league. Of course, this has gotten everybody talking about it.
For those who don't want to click on the video, I will put what he said down for the most part:
"It's like the elephant in the room, and you don't want to talk about it, but I've gotten to the point in my life where I'm like, 'No, I'm going to ... there's no need to not talk about it. I believe that I will be hopefully not just the highest-paid receiver in the league, but the highest-paid, period."
Before people jump to the whole "he is insane bit," I do have to hand it to Beckham as he wasn't yelling into the video. He wasn't screaming and saying if he doesn't get paid he will hold the Giants hostage. It was a calm Beckham (a bit odd to think) and actually a good interview from him.
That said, let's look at facts. Beckham signed a 4 year, $10 million deal with the Giants in 2014. That is underpaid to what other receivers are getting. And a debate rises between Beckham, Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, and Antonio Brown on who is the best wide receiver in football. The other three have contracts ranging around $14 million per year. So does Beckham deserve a pay raise? Yes.
But it isn't Beckham wanting to be the highest paid receiver. It is the highest paid player. Odd to think that a non-quarterback is the highest paid player. But Beckham really feels that way. And there are some that possibly agree with that sentiment as the argument is "where would the Giants be or where would Eli Manning be without Odell Beckham, Jr. as his guy?" And answers would be somewhere of "5-11 or 6-10." He is that much of a playmaker for New York.
The biggest knock that has plagued Beckham during his NFL time has been his maturity bit. Whether it was the game against Josh Norman when he was still with the Panthers, the retaliation shots against the Vikings, losing his cool on the sidelines against Washington, and of course the Miami boat party during playoff week where Beckham imploded against Green Bay. It has been the knock, and really his downfall to this point in the NFL.
It came to a head that Giants GM Jerry Reese after the playoff loss said Beckham needs to grow up. Even when the normally seldom-spoken Eli Manning said that Beckham has got to back it up, then you know there are issues. And many believe Beckham is behind Jones, Brown, and Bryant in part because of his temper and emotions are not in check. And that will continue to be the knock on Beckham until something changes.
If Beckham REALLY wants to be the highest paid player, he has to play with more poise and not go off the cuff every time something doesn't get his way. We do forget he is still only 24 years old and he still has time to mature between the ears. And if he does, he could be the best wide receiver in football without question. 2017 would be the year to do that for him.
But until that happens, people will just laugh at the idea of him believing he should be the highest paid player in the NFL.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
