Cleveland Browns trade talk: Odell Beckham must show up this offseason
What the Cleveland Browns decide to do with Odell Beckham may depend on how “present” the wide receiver is during the team’s offseason.
Trade Odell Beckham Jr. The notion seems crazy for fans of the Cleveland Browns, who, less than a year ago, were rejoicing at the deal that brought the celebrity wideout to town.
However, after the quietest 1,000-receiving year this side of Antonio Bryant, there’s been speculation Beckham could be on the move. Beckham’s off-the-field behavior at the LSU-Clemson game only ignited the issue further.
Now, with a new front office and coaching staff in place, the question of whether or not Beckham will stay a Brown might depend on how present the receiver is during offseason workouts. Beckham made headlines last winter for missing a majority of the team’s voluntary workouts as new coach Freddie Kitchens tried to settle in.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that it could depend on Beckham, who recently met with Kevin Stefanski, where expectations for the future were laid out. Rapoport said the Browns want to see Beckham show an increased presence at OTAs and offseason conditioning program, while setting an example for the younger guys on the team.
"“If that happens and he proves he’s a team first guy for this new coaching staff, I’d imagine he’d sticks around in Cleveland for at least one more year to try and make it work.”"
It sounds like the Browns want to keep OBJ, but it could hinge on his commitment. Beckham seems to love the Patriots, heaping praise on the franchise whenever he’s not giving Tom Brady a pair of shoes.
He certainly doesn’t exemplify the Patriots way, though, making things about him, whether were talking about a watch, custom-made sneakers, or helmet visors.
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It’ll be interesting to see how Beckham treats the offseason, because many media members were ridiculed for “over reporting” the Beckham offseason stories. Now, it appears to matter, and his future with the team appears to depend on it.