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.
That home was LA, another big city for a big personality.
While his regular season numbers weren’t anything to brag about, his abilities enabled the Rams to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive after Robert Woods’ season-ending injury.
Beckham’s mere presence changed defensive schemes, and with Cooper Kupp dominating, Beckham had the luxury to become more comfortable and slowly carve out his position with the Rams.
Most importantly, he was no longer targeted as viciously as he was in his two previous homes.
The camera was always on him in NY, capturing both the good and bad that he did. From his incredible, one-handed catch against the Cowboys and his near-decapitation of the Panthers’ Josh Norman to his one-sided fight with a kicking net, Beckham was always front page news.
In Cleveland, he was the scapegoat for Mayfield’s poor execution and play. He was blamed for hampering Baker’s development, and one dropped pass was akin to adding gasoline to a simmering flame for fans looking for a reason to jump on the “blame Odell” bandwagon.
Mind you, Odell never caused any real harm or trouble for those teams.
There was no off-the-field drama or criminal activity.
Perhaps his two biggest “controversies” were looking up at the sun during a solar eclipse with sunglasses and the infamous Miami boat trip before the playoffs in 2017, after which he was mercilessly eviscerated for the Giants’ loss because, obviously, he was the only one playing in the game.
Signing with the Rams in November appeared to be the catalyst for Odell’s career rebuild.
He was a star that needed a team and the Rams were team that needed a star in their Super Bowl or bust quest, so it was a perfect match.
But then the Odell blame game resurfaced after a shocking Monday night loss to the 49ers.
He finished the game with two catches for 18 yards and barely even took the field.
Despite the fact that the Rams couldn’t stop Deebo Samuel, the media chose to bash Odell and called his performance “lackluster” and “disappointing”.
He had been with the team for literally a week yet the detractors took aim and fired.
But this is the fate of the talented with big personalities. They always have a target on their backs no matter the situation.
To his credit, Beckham didn’t shy away from the criticism. He took it like a professional and kept working.
“You’ve got a player who has battled so much and who has been able to change his narrative,” said Robert Woods. “A lot of people have presumptions about Odell, but I would say he’s a hard worker and a selfless player.”
Almost three months later, Beckham took to the field and looked poised for a dominating night until he was injured.
At that moment, everyone empathized with his pain and agony. It felt like all of the drama, frustration and torment he suffered through for the last three years in Cleveland would be for naught.
But then Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp woke up and led the Rams to the 23-20 victory over the Bengals.
While the media celebrated Matthew Stafford’s career-defining moment, many looked to the other player who was crying, hugging his mom and kissing the stomach of his pregnant girlfriend.
Finally, after years of torment by the media and fans, Odell Beckham Jr. finally got his much deserved Super Bowl ring. He endured years of criticism and blame and finally raised the Lombardi Trophy.
“He was on his way to having a Super Bowl MVP-type of performance, but he got a ring,” said Vonn Miller. “That’s what we all came here for.”
So while others are debating if Matt Stafford is Hall of Fame worthy, we’ll happily celebrate Odell’s moment of redemption.
