How Odell Beckham Jr. got Giants to overcome one of the fears of signing him

He left something behind.It was one of the helmets he wore in his first five years with the Giants, still there, at the team facility, unused since the 2018 season.Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

Odell Beckham Jr.reunited with that helmet this week.“It had dust on it,’’ he said.Beckham, in some ways, has dust on him as well.

He is back where he achieved stardom, but that was a long time ago.He is 33 years old now and trying to get through this spring and on into the summer and make the roster, no longer a marquee wide receiver but perhaps a wiser and more appreciative one.There are no financial ramifications here.

Beckham signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million.Not a penny of it is guaranteed.

It is about finishing where he started and trying to squeeze just a bit more out of his football career.This is a conversation he had with the new Giants head coach, John Harbaugh.“I think that was one of his fears,’’ Beckham said Wednesday.“He was like, ‘I love you so much, I’ve got so much respect for you.

I don’t want to bring you here and have to cut you,’ or whatever.“I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m going out on my sword either way it goes.If that’s what you’ve got to do, you see I’m not best or fit, then by all means I’m good with it, I can live with it.

I can’t live with sitting at home not doing it, you know?’ I just couldn’t do it.“Like I said, it’s not who I am, so … I’m just here to enjoy the moment, work hard, we’ll see what happens.’’ Sign up for Inside the Giants by Paul Schwartz, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! What happens with Beckham is anyone’s guess. He last played in an NFL game Dec.

8, 2024, when he was f...