When his knee buckled on Sunday night, we all thought the worst for the much loved yet much-maligned Odell Beckham Jr.
The talented receiver has been a fan favorite since entering the league as the 12th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the NY Giants and his impact was immediate.
Circus catches, explosive playmaking abilities, dynamic talents and hard work were on display every game. He was the big name and big personality that New York loved and represented.
In his five seasons with the Giants, Odell Beckham amassed 5,476 yards receiving and 44 TDs on 396 receptions. That includes missing practically all of 2017 after fracturing his ankle. In 2018 he signed a five-year extension worth $95 million and returned to the field that year. He had 77 receptions for 1,052 yards and 6 TDs and looked to be returning to star status.
Then he was banished to Cleveland, and that’s when the true pain began.
In 2019, his first year with the Browns, Beckham continued where he left off. He hauled in 74 passes for 1,035 yards and 4 TDs. Not the Odell of old, but still very good.
Injuries, poor offensive scheming and Baker Mayfield all hamstrung his once-blooming career. Instead of being a top-tier receiver, Beckham languished at the bottom, some calling him a “has been.”
The Browns-Beckham experiment was a massive failure and everyone knew it except Cleveland.
This past November, after three miserable seasons, the Browns finally freed him from purgatory and fans celebrated. They knew all Odell needed was a new home and his career would be resurrected.
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Originally posted 2022-02-15 11:00:00.
