Giants coach speaks out as Odell Beckham Jr. returns to team
The saga of Odell Beckham’s contract situation continues, but the New York Giants star receiver made good on a promise to show up to the team’s facilities Monday morning.
Beckham appeared at Giants headquarters in East Rutherford — where the team is holding voluntary workouts — telling ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he was going to “check in, work out in the gym and meet with some people.”
It’s a step forward from Beckham’s stance last month, when he said he wouldn’t step foot on the field without a new contract. It was unclear if that meant he wouldn’t practice or work out with the team, but regardless, Beckham’s arrival is certainly good news for Giants fans.
Newly hired Giants coach Pat Shurmur, meanwhile, is happy that his best player decided to show up.
“He’s a professional, and I’m glad he’s here today,” Shurmur said during a conference call with reporters, according to ESPN.
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While Beckham is in attendance, it’s still unclear if he plans on working out with the team or participating in any other voluntary activities. He has been staying out in Los Angeles and is still recovering from a fractured ankle which ended his 2017 season in October.
According to Giants.com, this first phase of the offseason program consists of strength and conditioning as well as physical rehabilitation.
In two weeks, on-field workouts will begin, in addition to team practice. The second phase lasts for three weeks, while the final phase, which is four weeks long, consists of OTAs but no live contact.
As a new coach, Shurmur knows how important it is for players to be around to meet the coaching staff and learn with their teammates.
“We understand how this is structured here in the offseason, but it’s certainly important in my mind. It’s important for everybody to be around so they can hear it, learn it, do it together,” Shurmur said. “This is the ultimate team game and we need to work together because it’s important we’re all on the same page as we move toward the fall.”
Beckham and Shurmur did meet up in Los Angeles several weeks ago when the coach was in town to watch draft prospects Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen throw. Even though the Giants were, and presumably still are, listening to trade offers for Beckham, Shurmur isn’t worried about those talks affecting the receiver.
“I’m not worried about it. I really believe Odell is a professional,” Shurmur said. “He wants to be great and he understands the importance of the offseason, and he’s a competitive guy.”
“Again, we had already started communicating before all that information kind of got out there and was talked about to a great deal.”
Though there’s a lot of interest in him, it’s not clear whether the Giants really would be willing to trade Beckham for anything less than two first-round draft picks. This steep asking price is likely scaring off teams, but there are definitely some clubs — like the Patriots — who might be willing to part with the pieces necessary to make a deal happen.
Speaking of New England, many noticed a recent Instagram “like” from Tom Brady last week.
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After trading Brandin Cooks to the Rams, the Patriots have two first-round picks in the 2018 draft, but it’s still considered unlikely they make a deal for Beckham.
The Giants’ voluntary offseason program will wrap up in the first week of June. They will then hold a mandatory minicamp from June 12-14. That is expected to be the first time Beckham will participate in on-field activities since his injury and surgery.
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