Odell Beckham Jr. would be 'great safety,' says Falcons coach Dan Quinn
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) gestures before a game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. Credit: AP / Tony Gutierrez
Dan Quinn paid Odell Beckham Jr. what might be the ultimate compliment that a former defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks and their "Legion of Boom" secondary can give. Talking about his intensity and competitiveness, Quinn, now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, said Beckham would "make a great safety."
Beckham at first downplayed the idea.
"I don't know," he said, seeming confused by the comment. "I play receiver right now, so that's all I really focus on."
It didn't take Beckham long, though, to wrap his mind around the possibility.
"Safety is a fun position for a lot of guys, especially if you play free and you're just back there and get to roam, it's almost like playing centerfield," Beckham said. "But that's not my position, nor do I think I could just jump on the field and play safety. I guess I'll take it as a compliment."
Quinn joked that if he knew how to stop Beckham the receiver, he'd be far better off. Maybe he was trying to do that by planting the defensive idea in his head. There's little doubt that Quinn would likely prefer to see Beckham in coverage than have to cover him.
"He probably would," Beckham grinned.
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.
