Odell Beckham's journey to new contract made key stops in L.A., Michigan
Odell Beckham Jr. of the Giants looks on during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Aug. 6 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Credit: Mike Stobe
Odell Beckham Jr.’s massive contract extension was finalized and signed on Monday in New Jersey, but it became a reality thanks to two different points over the last few months. One of those moments was in Los Angeles in March. The other was in Detroit earlier this month.
First, the more recent, just two weeks ago. That’s when the Giants had joint practices with the Lions over three days in Allen Park, Michigan. It’s when Beckham participated in unscripted football activities against another team for the first time since his ankle surgery last October. And it’s when team co-owner John Mara became convinced, watching the star receiver run and cut past would-be defenders, that Beckham was going to be the same caliber player he had before the injury.
“We were all confident that it was going to get done, it was just a matter of time,” Mara said of the contract on Tuesday. “When he went out to Detroit and took part in those practices and was full speed and looked great, he was ready to go and we were satisfied he was healthy and had the right attitude.”
That’s when negotiations on the contract really ramped up.
Did Mara need to see that before investing in Beckham to the tune of what eventually would become a five-year extension that could be worth $95 million?
“Yes,” he said bluntly.
It also proved to coach Pat Shurmur that Beckham was on the right path to return in time for the start of the regular season.
“Detroit week was big,” Shurmur said. “We were able to see it then.”
Which led Shurmur to declare Tuesday: “There is no doubt in my mind that he’ll be ready to go against Jacksonville.”
The previous factor was when Shurmur, who had been hired just recently, was in Los Angeles scouting quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen as potential picks for the team with the second overall selection in the draft. It was during that West Coast swing that Shurmur went out of his way to meet with Beckham for breakfast and their first face-to-face conversation. The CBA agreement prohibits any coaching until mid-April, so they weren’t allowed to talk football at that point, but that was fine. It was meant to be a meeting between two people, not a coach and a player.
“Like any player, I just wanted to get to know him,” Shurmur said. “That was it. Just normal communication. You’ve heard me say it before: We’re here as coaches to help the players be the best that they can be. Part of that starts by understanding who they are.”
For Beckham, it was more significant.
“From the minute we sat down to talk… the relationship [that] has been able to build has been really amazing for me and beneficial,” Beckham said. “It reminds me of the relationship I had with my high school coach, who is somebody I still talk to to this day, a guy who taught me to be a man. The relationship [Shurmur and I] have is very good. I love everything he’s done since he walked in the building and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
That trust in Shurmur was crucial. There was the understanding that if Beckham handled his side physically and from a maturity level, the Giants would handle theirs and they would head into September happy together. It was one of the major factors in keeping Beckham in blue … and green … for a long time to come.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
