Cleveland Browns need to trade Odell Beckham Jr.

The rumors are pouring in, the Cleveland Browns are shopping Odell Beckham Jr.

In the world of sports, owners, general managers, and head coaches (among other people) are always lying. Do not believe them. “Odell’s in our future.” Lies. Here’s some advice, when there are persistent rumors about something, believe it. Don’t worry about “confirming” it when it happens. This kind of stuff isn’t made up, not by the names that are reporting it. Their entire careers fall down to if they, as a reporter, can be trusted. So you will never see a reporter make up a story, or run with a story that doesn’t have legs. They’re not talking to Gus the janitor, people. So when you see that the Browns are again shopping Odell Beckham Jr., believe it. 

There’s good reason to believe it, especially after how he played Week 1.

Beckham was a mistake from Jump Street. The Browns sent over a good safety in Jabril Peppers and a first-round pick, and all we got was an oft-injured, diva wide receiver with attitude issues. He’s been so injured over the course of his career that any advantaged he had over opposing players is gone. That’s what the tape has been showing for going on four years now. This isn’t a new development. What we saw Sunday wasn’t an anomaly. It’s the second verse, same as the first. It’s what we can expect going forward.

Sure, he can still crack 1,000 yards, but only if you spoon-feed him targets. David Njoku caught all three of his passes thrown to him. Jarvis Landry caught all but one. They’re catching passes from the same quarterback, right? So what’s more likely, that Mayfield can’t get the ball to anyone (not true) or Beckham is running routes in such a way that Mayfield can’t get the ball to him?

Go back and watch the tape, Beckham looked disinterested. His route running looked awful. Maybe five years ago he could get away with that. He doesn’t have that skill anymore. Which isn’t surprising that Beckham may have gotten lax in his preparation. Keep in mind that Beckham got upset last year over his wearing of a $200k watch on the field, his visor, his cleats, and everything but the wins and losses.

Don’t get him the ball, however, and you’ll see some fire. Even if the team is winning.

Big Money Beckham isn’t just disinterested in playing, he doesn’t work anymore. Not on this team and he never has. The team forced the ball to him ten times, and he only made three catches, one of which was negated by a penalty and a fourth would-be-catch was dropped. Oh, you think David Njoku has stone hands? Beckham was among the league leader in drops last year.

Want a great reason to get rid of Beckham? As a talent, isn’t worth his contract. The Browns are past the biggest part of the dead cap number that Beckham brings, so getting rid of him isn’t going to be an issue.

Beckham, as a player, isn’t worth a team building an offense around and Beckham as a player isn’t someone you can rely on. That’s why the team’s been shopping him since GM Andrew Berry took over the team. He knows the same thing everyone else knows, Beckham is a rumored malcontent who isn’t worth the headache anymore.

The offense was clicking before head coach Kevin Stefanski started dialing up Beckham’s number. Guys like Njoku, Kareem Hunt, and Jarvis Landry were getting all sorts of good looks in that first drive and-a-half or so. Then they started forcing it to Beckham and the gameplan went off the rails.

Maybe trading Beckham alleviates the need to force plays. Maybe that does make the Browns offense more in line with what we saw briefly in the first period of last Sunday’s game. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe Beckham goes to (let’s say) Miami and becomes God Mode Beckham instead of Big Money Beckham and puts up 2,000 yards receiving, 40 TDs, and wins the MVP award.

Maybe, and this is just a maybe, maybe Beckham’s reputation, which everyone knew about before John Dorsey killed our team chemistry, is who he is. Maybe that reputation is such a negative influence that getting rid of him, even if there’s no second receiver to replace him, would be the greatest thing ever for a quarterback like Mayfield.

Or maybe Mayfield still struggles and Beckham posts 700 yards in (let’s say) Houston and both parties look like dipsticks. Don’t forget, however, Mayfield played great without him in 2018. Mayfield played great with Freddie Kitchens calling the plays. The only real major issue in 2019 that changed for Mayfield and the Browns was the addition of Beckham. Maybe Mayfield’s play is connected to Beckham, maybe it’s not.

Either way, it’s time to move Beckham.