WR Odell Beckham Jr.
August 7, 2015
Q: What’s training camp like, you didn’t really have this experience last year? What’s your impression of it when you get out every day and grind?
A: It’s a lot more fun to be out there than when you watch, I can tell you that—that’s for sure. It’s been cool just being able to go through practices and start to recover, and you feel what it feels like to go through these practices. Just being able to get back out there each and every day and take something new from every day—learn from it. It’s been fun.
Q: Do you notice a difference in the way Eli is throwing the ball, are you guys connecting a little better?
A: I couldn’t say we’re connecting better or worse this year. We’re going about practicing and we’re running plays. Whatever plays are up and whatever plays are called, that’s what we’re going to run. I think it’s going to be a great year for all of us. Eli [Manning] looks great, the receivers are looking better, and the offense is starting to click.
Q: Are you still sort of holding back a little bit running-wise or are you all-out?
A: It depends. I open up every now and then. There’s times where you just pull back, it’s still early. Just trying to make it through as many practices as you can and get better.
Q: Last year you had a pretty good year, obviously, without training camp. What do you think the difference is going to be for you? How much better do you think you can be?
A: I don’t know, I guess only time can tell, really. I know that practice will make it easier, but at the end of the day, it’s football—it’s what you’ve been doing for a long time. As long as you’re on the same page with Eli, whether it’s mentally or physically, I think it will be fine.
Q: Do you know exactly what a catch is in this league after seeing the film again from the officials?
A: I’m still a little confused every now and then. The only thing I can say is just don’t even let the ball hit the ground and don’t ever let go. That’s the best advice I can give any receiver right now—just make it no option to be reviewed.
Q: It looks like Coach McAdoo has put in some new wrinkles involving you and Vic. When you saw that at first what were your thoughts when you saw the things he has planned for the two of you?
A: I mean, that’s all of us. Reuben [Randle], Vic [Victor Cruz] and myself. It started last year a lot, we started moving around to different spots. So it’s not something that he [offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo] just added yesterday, it’s been built up over time. Just moving each one of us around, putting us in different positions and making it hard for defenses to line up certain coverages or game plan certain ways.
Q: You have any idea or sense of what to expect next week in Cincinnati?
A: Honestly, I don’t. I’ve never been a part of anything like that. So, I’m kind of going in—whatever it is, is whatever it is. I know I play for the Giants and they play for the Bengals, so hopefully we’re out there to get work, but whatever lies is what lies there.
Q: You’re a competitive guy, so do you envision yourself getting into a situation where it becomes like a game?
A: No, I know where I’m at right now. I don’t expect to go out there and try and play a game on Tuesday—especially it being preseason as well. Just go out there to compete and get better. If they take it up to another level, then you just go with the flow. You just make sure you’re smart about it.
Q: You’ve seen your popularity grow over the past year, are you surprised when people are trying to get your autograph and stands are collapsing?
A: I really don’t even know what to say on that part. It was just kind of weird, I’m signing a football, and I see the stands collapse and I see legs in between the bleachers and stuff like that. It’s just crazy. I don’t like to see anybody, any kids or anything like that, in harm’s way. Hopefully, there’s not another incident like that or getting put in those situations again.
Q: Is that something you thought about coming into your pro career, the celebrity aspect, and how you would deal with it? Or was it something that you’re taking in day by day.
A: It’s something that I kind of just take in day-by-day. I always thought you’re in the NFL, like you’re a football player—you play in the NFL, but I never thought there was so much more to it than what there is. But it’s definitely not a bad thing, so to say. It’s just you live and you learn. You’ve just got to find the right way to do things.
Q: Victor has done his share with that, do you guys talk about that a lot?
A: All the time. I always clown with him, just about how crazy things can get sometimes or how crazy it may feel for you sometimes. I just think about him [Cruz] and he’s been there. So if I ever need to ask someone for any kind of advice, I can just go to him.
Q: What’s the pitch count like for you so far? Have you built up at all? Are you doing more or less than you were doing at the beginning? Is it going to stay the same, what’s your impression of it?
A: I don’t really know. Honestly, you’d have to ask the trainers. They have those GPS’s and they keep a track however much we practice. I have been feeling good and practices have been going well. So, stay pretty consistent with it.
Q: What’s the most important thing you think you’ve learned in your career?
A: Just keeping football as football—making sure it’s the most important thing to me, which it is because this is what I’m here to do.
Q: Do you still have your hamstrings on your mind at all?
A: Hamstrings are always going to be on your mind. You can ask anybody who ran track, anybody who has ever pulled a muscle, it’s always going to be something in the back of your mind, no matter if you try and let it go or not.
Q: From looking at the playbook and the plans this year compared to how you were implemented into the offense last year, how much of an expansion is it? Are they giving you a whole bunch more?
A: Not a lot more. Not anything that we couldn’t handle. It’s just a matter of getting it all down and just knowing exactly what you have. I think it’s pretty much the same as last year, just finding better ways to execute.
Q: What’s the biggest thing that you try and improve?
A: Staying patient, staying patient and just really weathering the storm. Not allowing anything else to affect what you came here to do.
Q: Patient against what, what are you trying to rush?
A: Life.
Q: Life?
A: Life.
Q: Looking forward to seeing Jeremy [Hill]?
A: Oh man, I can’t wait. I can’t wait to see [Bengals running back] Jeremy [Hill]. We Facetime and we talk pretty much every day. Just clown with him and just ready to get to see him go to work. It’s just something about one of your boys, one of your brothers that you’ve played with—watching him do his thing, it makes you want to do your thing. So I’m definitely excited to see him. Best of luck to him.
Q: Is there any difference, you get to see him and you get to see Jarvis Landry later on in the season. Do you guys talk about what that’s going to be like?
A: Actually, I talked to Jarvis [Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry] just yesterday. We talk about it all the time, it’s just going to be something we always dreamed of. If not being on the same team, being on the same field in the NFL is a blessing enough. So I’m looking forward to it, looking forward to seeing Jeremy and Jarvis. Just really looking forward to this season.
