Odell Beckham Is Officially A Cancer
For those who have been following this site for a long time, the demise of Russell Westbrook has gone a long way towards helping this site grow. When Westbrook fails, we thrive. My argument against Westbrook has never been the idea that somehow he doesn’t have the talent or tantalizing athleticism. Both of those things are true, it just doesn’t make him a good basketball player. His playing style and lack of self-awareness is what makes him a cancer.
Odell Beckham is officially a cancer. There’s no more wiggle room for any other interpretation. Odell is talented and his skill set is something you would want in any receiver. That’s not the issue. The problem is everything else Odell brings to the table, which makes the juice not worth the squeeze.
Quarterbacks are products of their environment. They can go up or down a tier based on what’s supporting them. Baker Mayfield has drastically gotten better since Odell got hurt. He’s not just a little better. Mayfield’s production has gone through the roof while the weather is getting worse in a cold city like Cleveland.
I don’t buy a drastic change in production a fluke. When you watch the Browns with Odell, your eyes don’t deceive you. It looks like a young quarterback trying to force the ball to Odell when he probably shouldn’t. Otherwise, cry baby Odell will propose to the kicking net again.
Both things can be true. Odell can be talented and Cleveland can be better off without him. The Giants messed up the Odell trade because they shouldn’t have extended him first. Otherwise, they have won that trade without question. You would take Dexter Lawrence today over Odell as sad as that is to say.
Every single year, Odell makes my Don’t eat the cheese list for players not to draft in fantasy. His quarterbacks while not elite stars are not the reason why I don’t draft Odell. It’s the other nonsense he brings to the table. Whether it be proposing to kicking nets or lifting his leg like a dog to pee, Odell has been a problem.
Beckham’s production over the last four years has been wildly overstated. Each of the last two years, his catch percentage is less than 55%. Odell has been hampered by injuries and doesn’t even have an 80 catch season for four consecutive years.
Whether it be off the field antics, having a negative affect on the field, or just flat out not being as talented as everyone seems to think; the Odell Beckham story has been written. The guy is a full blown cancer and it’s time to acknowledge it.
