Odell Beckham Jr. endured a somewhat tumultuous exit from the Cleveland Browns earlier in the season. For the first time, he admitted that things could have ended differently between himself and the organization.
Beckham said Friday he regretted that he did not get “closure” or say goodbye to his teammates. He also hinted that much of his departure was “out of my control,” which made it impossible to say farewell on his own terms.
“One of the biggest regrets that I have about the way things ended is I just didn’t get — it’s like having a breakup but there really was no closure and it’s kind of just like you go, that’s just it,” Beckham said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “One thing I’ve always been big on in my life is closure. Because I feel like if doors are not closed, they’re always still open. Just having to leave, leave these guys that are your brothers, you have lifetime friendships with, and it just happened so abruptly. A lot of things were out of my control. By the time I woke up, the video was already posted, it just was unfortunate. Sometimes things go that way in life and you just have to roll with the punches. I just think about, here I am now and just making the most of the opportunity that I have.”
The video Beckham is referring to is one his father shared on Instagram depicting Baker Mayfield either missing or not throwing to an open Beckham. That video helped accelerate the wide receiver’s departure, though it certainly seemed to contribute to decaying relationships with some teammates.
Whatever Beckham’s regrets, he got his wish at the time. Now he’ll be playing for a Super Bowl. In the end, that is the most important part for him, not how it went down.
Photo: Jan 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers former player Odell Beckham, Jr. in attendance before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Clemson Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
