The saga continues. Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be excused from practice for a second straight day (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). 
[RELATED: Browns Will Likely Move On From Odell Beckham Jr.]
The Browns opted against trading Beckham at the deadline, despite interest from the Saints and other teams. Meanwhile, Beckham’s father and LeBron James ignited a #FreeOBJ hashtag, urging the Browns to deal the star wideout.
The Browns excused Beckham from Wednesday’s practice while head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry talked through the situation with Beckham’s agent. Those talks are still ongoing, per Garafolo, though some believe that OBJ has played his last snap in Cleveland. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is also willing to smooth things out, though he’s keeping the focus on this week’s game against the Bengals.
“Yeah i think any conversation would go a long way,” Mayfield said (Twitter links) “[As for a] resolution? I don’t know about that right now. [But], if he’s back, we’ll work through it and I can put my ego and pride aside to win.”
Beckham, who turns 29 tomorrow, is still owed $8MM in 2021. If he goes on waivers, any team claiming him would have to assume the balance of that contract. If he were to go unclaimed, the Browns would be on the hook for that sum.
Send him to the lack of priorities league along with the previous players that opted to blow a privileged career to instead make a statement of some kind? If anything it demonstrates that talent is never enough to sustain yourself in the NFL. Even with the 8 and 9 chances the sport gives players like this! Maybe his dad will blame someone else on the roster or the equipment manager this week for not realizing OBJs talent or making his helmet too tight?
Point the way, please. Antonio Brown alienated 3 different teams but landed on his feet. Heck, they’ve made Randy Moss a TV personality. Agree with you, but let’s face it: if you have talent, people have short memories
AB is not making what he once was. Beckham will never see another 15 million a year contract
This guy is a clown. A baby. His dad and commie bron with their free obj nonsense. Over privileged baby.
You got that right, Beast
Amazingly dumb
Dude is toxic
He needs to do some soul searching and think about why he’s on the Browns in the first place. Diva WR’s don’t end well
Worked out pretty well for Hopkins. Granted he is not the same level of diva.
True, but Hopkins’ career is not over yet. And more importantly, I can’t think of any substantiated claims that Hopkins wasn’t committed to his team. I wouldn’t say that he’s necessarily the OBJ/Michael Thomas type.
The Browns should just move him to the practice squad until next March – then they can trade him to some other team that is willing to underachieve due to his selfishness.
Moving him to the practice squad exposes him to being plucked for free with no compensation. If you’re going to sit on him you’ll want something in return, even if it’s pennies on the dollar.
The Seahawks seem to be the destination for lost souls and reclamation projects. They lost out on Josh Gordon but maybe OBJ can fill that gap.
Packers make the most sense to me. Rodgers seems like he wants to leave and the Packers could show him they are committed to him winning which seems to be his biggest issue with them. They also shouldn’t have to pay too much to land his services. If they get Beckham he will finally have someone else besides Adams to throw to.
On Beckham’s side of the deal he is always complaining his quarterbacks can’t get him the damn ball. If he goes to GB he can prove himself right with Rodgers. If he doesn’t go to a team with a best elite QB what’s the point of forcing himself off the team?
Baker isn’t even a good QB. He will be out of the league before OBJ is.