Cleveland Browns News & Rumors

The Odell Beckham Jr. saga in Cleveland continues to heat up. After the wideout sat out practice again on Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes that OBJ has likely requested his release.

As Cabot writes, it sounds like comments from the receiver’s dad ruffled some feathers within the Browns organization, with wideout Rashard Higgins making it clear that he’d never criticize his quarterback. Odell Beckham Sr. continued to fan the flames today when he onc3 again cited a video that show Baker Mayfield‘s inability to connect with his well-paid wideout. We still haven’t heard from Beckham Jr. regarding the social media shenanigans, but the silence seems to be pretty clear.

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt indicated that he’s ready to move on from the current distraction, and it sounds like he’s already preparing for an offense without OBJ.

“We are going to go in and plan for the guys who are going to be there at this point,” Van Pelt said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “That is our focus.

“As of now, again, we are just getting ready for today’s practice. We will see where that goes from here. Again, just getting the guys ready who are here in the building today to go play on Sunday.”

Beckham’s contract is the main complication surrounding a divorce. The wideout is still owed $8MM this season, and there’s a limited number of teams with the required cap space to claim the player off waivers. Cabot suggests that the two sides could work on a creative agreement that would see OBJ give up a chunk of his owed money.

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.

It sounds like Odell Beckham Jr. is trying to force his way out of Cleveland, and the Browns wideout may get his wish. A source told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that Beckham’s stint with the Browns has likely come to an end, and the only question is how the organization will let go of the veteran receiver.

[RELATED: Saints, Browns Discussed Odell Beckham Jr. Trade]

Beckham’s contract is the main complication surrounding a divorce. The wideout is still owed $8MM this season, and there’s a limited number of teams with the required cap space to claim the player off waivers. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that Beckham could also “claim termination pay,” ensuring he’ll receive the rest of his money. If Beckham isn’t claimed on waivers, this means the Browns would be left with a significant chunk of dead cap.

The Browns considered moving Beckham at the deadline, discussing a trade with the Saints. Ultimately, the team held on to the receiver, but that was before the player’s father took to social media to criticize Baker Mayfield and the quarterback’s inability to click with his top receiver. Then, LeBron James chimed in, seemingly urging the Browns to trade his friend before the deadline. One day later, Beckham is still in Cleveland, though he’s absent from practice with a “personal matter”. For what it’s worth, Mayfield said earlier today that he’d welcome a conversation with Beckham and would prefer the receiver sticks with the team.

Beckham, 29 on Friday, has four 1,000+ yard seasons to his credit, but has yet to approach his gaudy 2015 and 2016 numbers with the Giants. Following a 2020 campaign where OBJ was limited to only 319 receiving yards in seven games, the veteran has collected 232 receiving yards in six games this season.

Sounds like Odell Beckham Jr. is staying put. The Browns have no plans on trading the star wide receiver before the afternoon deadline, according to sources who spoke with Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Browns have gotten calls on Beckham, but Russini hears that none of the offers were to their liking. 

The Browns had at least some interest in listening, given Beckham’s health issues. Last year, a torn ACL shut him down after Week 7. This year, he’s been dealing with a shoulder malady. OBJ has been active since Week 3, but he’s not quite 100% healed up. His best games to date came against the Bears (5 catches for 77 yards) and, more recently, the Cardinals (5/79). Outside of that, we haven’t seen the vintage OBJ in 2021.

All in all, Beckham has 17 catches for 232 yards and zero touchdowns in his six games. His last healthy season came in 2019, when he reeled in 74 grabs for 1,035 yards and four scores. Despite the hiccups, the Browns seem prepared to keep him and pay out the ~$9MM he’s still owed for 2021.

The Browns are 4-4 following Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. Stationed fourth in the sardine-packed AFC North, they don’t seem inclined to sell off their stars between now and 4pm ET/3pm CT.