Odell Beckham Jr has not exactly shown traits of a franchise leader since he signed his massive contract extension with the New York Giants, and team owner John Mara clearly is not pleased with the way the star wide receiver has carried himself.
Speaking at the NFL owners’ meetings on Tuesday, Mara shared some of his thoughts about his team’s 1-5 start and the drama that has come along with it. At one point, he made a comment about Beckham that translates to, “Shut up and play.”
John Mara on Odell Beckham: "I think he needs to do a little more playing and a little less talking."
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) October 16, 2018
Mara said he did not talk to Beckham after his ESPN interview, saying he thinks enough people talk to him. Said he wishes he would make his headlines on the field instead of off.
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) October 16, 2018
Mara also said the Giants’ 1-5 start is disappointing and he is “sick about it.” Like head coach Pat Shurmur before him, the owner defended Eli Manning and said the quarterback is not solely responsible for the team’s shortcomings.
Mara emphasized that he knows Eli is the "punching bag" right now, but said a lot of guys have to play better when the team is 1-5. "It's not just him."
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) October 16, 2018
Manning has faced a great deal of criticism this season, and deservedly so. He appears incapable of getting the ball downfield and is clearly closing in on the end of his career. Even if Mara and the Giants’ brass know that, the last thing they want is Beckham making headlines for some of the remarks he has made about the two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback. Mara’s candor on Tuesday was a reflection of that.
