New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. likened himself to a football version of LeBron James.
While speaking to reporters after New York Giants practice, Odell Beckham Jr. likened himself to a football version of LeBron James.
OBJ, who is back with the Giants and trying to rejuvenate his NFL career, has strung together back-to-back good practices.
"I'm just trying to be present each and every day, and prove to myself that I am who I know I am," OBJ said. "Everybody likes to talk about, 'Is he going to be this, that?' And I'm like, 'LeBron James used to take off before the free throw line, and now if he's taking off with his foot right in front of it. He's still got a different game, but he's still playing at a high level.' I believe that I can play at a high level."
New Giants head coach John Harbaugh coached OBJ on the Baltimore Ravens. The two have a close relationship.
Beckham Jr. played in nine games with the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 season. He caught nine passes for 55 yards and didn't score a touchdown.
The 33-year-old Beckham Jr. began his NFL career with the Giants in 2014. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls with New York from 2014 to 2016 and won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
However, Beckham Jr. became too big a distraction to the Giants franchise due to his antics and the LSU product was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
OBJ finished his first New York stint with 5,476 receiving yards, 390 catches and 44 receiving touchdowns.
Beckham Jr. appeared in 29 games with the Browns before being waived in November 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler signed with the Los Angeles Rams and helped the team win the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Unfortunately for Beckham Jr., he tore his ACL (for the second time) in the Super Bowl and missed the entire 2022 season. The veteran signed with the Ravens in 2023 to play with QB Lamar Jackson. OBJ had 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Ravens.
A New Orleans native, Beckham Jr. has 575 catches, 7,987 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns in the NFL. He was on a Hall of Fame path with the Giants before injuries and trades derailed his career.
OBJ will catch passes from Jaxson Dart this season. Dart finished his rookie season with 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He appears to have a bright future under Harbaugh, who helped Jackson win two MVPs.
