New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has made no secret that he wants to be the NFL’s highest paid player. He said as much in an interview with The Uninterrupted last summer before the start of training camp.
In case anyone forgot, Beckham let the world know he wants to resolve his contract situation as quickly as possible. This time, he used his red-carpet appearance before NFL Honors to get the message out.
“Hopefully to get it done,” Beckham said in an interview with NJ Advance Media. “It’s that time just to get it over with. I really want to do it so I can move past it. It’s too much sitting around thinking, ‘Where am I going to be at?’ I need to know where I can start buying furniture for a house. I want to have a place set where I know, ‘OK, this is home. I can always go back to home.’ So, it’s just a little intermediate process right now. I’m sure it will get worked out.”
Beckham is under contract through the 2018 season, the final year of his rookie deal. His base salary will be $8.49 million.
Beckham had at least 90 receptions, 1,200 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in each of his first three NFL seasons, being named to the Pro Bowl each season. He was also named an All-Pro in 2015 and 2016. Beckham is the fastest player in NFL history to eclipse to the 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards milestones.
Beckham broke his ankle in a Week 5 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished 2017 with 25 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns.
Beckham was past the rehab phase and working out immediately after the end of the regular season. He showed off his dance moves when he and quarterback Eli Manning spoofed the iconic dance scene from the film “Dirty Dancing” (including the lift performed by Jennifer Grey and the late Patrick Swayze) in an NFL commercial that aired during the third quarter of Super Bowl LII.
Beckham told NJ Advance Media that he didn’t know whether or not his agent had already begun contract negotiations with the Giants. The Giants, despite going on the record stating they want Beckham to spend the totality of his career playing home games at MetLife Stadium, don’t appear to be in a hurry to sign Beckham to a long-term deal.
“We will deal with that at the appropriate time,” co-owner, CEO, and president John Mara said weeks ago. “That is not necessarily right now. I’ve said before many times that we want him to be a Giant. We will get something done at some point. I first want (head coach) Pat (Shurmur) to sit down with him and for them to have a good understanding of how we are going to act going forward. I have a lot of confidence that it will work out well, but we’ll see.”
Shurmur did have a conversation with Beckham and felt that Beckham was “inspired to get ready to have a really good year”. Beckham also talked with general manager Dave Gettleman. Gettleman was asked specifically about Beckham during his introductory news conference. He said he learned not to give up on talent from former general manager Ernie Accorsi. Beckham said his conversation with Gettleman was “great”.
Beckham said he wants to be the NFL’s highest paid player but acknowledges that might be wishful thinking. Currently, the NFL’s highest-paid player is San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who will make $27.5 million in 2018.
Perhaps Beckham will be satisfied with being the NFL’s highest paid receiver. That distinction currently belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Antonio Brown. Brown will make $17 million in 2018. There are 23 wide receivers who will make more money than Beckham this upcoming season.
– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL and the New York Giants. Please like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.
