WR Odell Beckham Jr.
August 26, 2015
Q: What are you looking forward to playing against the Jets?
A: Just being able to experience what everyone talks about and what I hear about and just being able to be a part of it. Obviously I was part of a couple good rivalries in college, so I’m just looking forward to being able to get into some history a little bit, I guess history lessons.
Q: What have you heard about Giants/Jets?
A: They just say it’s a rivalry, you know Jets/Giants. When I first came here I thought the New York Giants would be in New York and the Jets were in Jersey, but I was obviously wrong about that. I’m just sitting back and trying to learn exactly what’s going on.
Q: How about getting a chance to go up against the two good cornerbacks [Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie] that they have?
A: I think it’ll be a great opportunity for us. To be able to go into our third preseason game and kind of just take that next step in the right direction as far as moving the offense along. Every other aspect as well but specifically speaking about the offense and going against one of the best corners in the league, and Cromartie who’s another really good corner, just looking forward to that opportunity.
Q: Is it important that you and Eli [Manning] connect here in the preseason before the regular season?
A: Obviously you get on the field, and if the ball is thrown your way, you want to catch it, but I think I had zero catches in the preseason last year. I think Eli and I kind of have an understanding of where each other are but you always want to work your material, work what you practice, and bring it over into the game as far as for confidence of the others around you. I feel as if we’ll be alright whether we get a pass going or not. Like I said, I’m just looking forward to be able to go against some very good competition.
Q: What do you know about Revis and do you know him at all?
A: He’s a good dude, very good person. I’ve met him a few times and hung out with him. Before the schedule came out and they said we had to play the Jets, we were good friends. Having to go against him, why would you not want to go against the best in the league? The Patrick Peterson’s, the [Richard] Sherman’s, Revis, the Joe Haden’s, that’s what you come here to do is to put yourself in the best position possible to go against the best and he’s clearly one of the best. It should be a tough challenge but I’m looking forward to just being able to go out there and competing.
Q: How do you feel…..(inaudible)
A: I guess we’ll see Saturday.
Q: You seemed to bang your wrist a little in the game against Jacksonville. Was that an issue?
A: It’s fine to me.
Q: What do you make of Victor [Cruz’s] comments about he felt guys were coming for you?
A: I agree with what he said, but at the end of the day it’s football. Guys are out there and you’re going to get hit. It’s a contact sport for a reason, but you just want to try and avoid any unnecessary contact. I know I do, for sure. So just plays that can be made by a defender and you’re choosing not to make a play on the ball, then it’s a different story. Like I said, at the end of the day, it’s football, you’re going to get hit, you’re going to have to take shots, and you’re going to have to get up and compete. I’m not so much worried about being targeted. I know maybe a little self-inflicted with that, that’s what it’s going to be like. I’m just going to be a target in other people’s eyes, something that I have to look out for, so just protecting yourself and knowing that there are 52 other people that have your back. It makes it less concerning for me to really worry about.
Q: Is there a change during the regular season with that balance between going for the ball and the contact?
A: I’m going for the ball. I’m just going to have to get hit. I don’t know about them. If they have their chance to take a shot, then I think they will. It’s just what you do and it’s a part of the game, so I can’t really get mad. I can’t really get mad about anything like that. You just learn to play with it and just know that it’s going to be the case.
Q: Did some of that boil over for you on the last play that you were in? It appeared you gave Sergio Brown a shove.
A: I didn’t see that and there was no flag thrown, so no harm, no foul.
Q: What has Eli Manning offered you?
A: Honestly, to be able to come in and be a rookie in the league, and you come in and get in my mind a guy who could end up going to the Hall of Fame. A quarterback like that, and a guy who loves football, loves talking about football and being able to converse with him about football, and getting on the same page. What better way to start off your career, with a guy like that who enjoys, and wants the best out of you, and he’s going to push you to be the best. I’ve learned a lot from E and just as far as watching what he does every day, how he comes to work, and how he handles everything in general. Whether he knows it or not, my eyes are always on him.
Q: With Rueben [Randle] and Cruz, are you saying whenever they’re ready they’re ready and we’ll get by until they are?
A: Absolutely. I think they had to hold a little while before I could go play with them so I can’t sit back and complain about me having to take all the reps in practice. I think I gave Rueben enough extra reps while I was out, so just waiting for him and Victor to come back healthy. You don’t want to rush back into something and then you prolong it. You want to try and stay on top of whatever you have going on and making sure when the time is right you can go. Right now, the main focus is just for those two guys to get as healthy as possible and the receiving corps to do our job, which is to one guy down the next man up, that’s always been the mentality. The receiving corps, starting with myself, I know I need to step it up and take it to another level as far as bringing energy, and everything that’s going on. It’s time for this team to take another step.
Q: You’ve talked about the importance of controlling your emotions. Saturday seemed like a test for that, how do you think it’s going?
A: It’s going to be a test all year and it’s just something you’re going to have to deal with. Like I said, I have 52 guys out there that are going to have my back, so I’m not so much concerned about it, and just kind of understanding it and embracing the position that you’re in, and knowing that there are going to be shots like that and guys trying to get in your head. Just make sure you remain who you are and at the end of the day, play football. I just love playing ball, so if they make a good play you just get up, tell them good play, and keep it moving.
Q: When you said a lot of it could be self-inflicted, is that because of success you’ve had or a personality thing?
A: Maybe a bit of both. I could rub a lot of people the wrong way if they don’t know me, so I’m sure a lot of it was cause for me, being who I am, and dancing and having fun. Also having success at the same time, I’m sure that if you were going against me, you wouldn’t want to see that. I wouldn’t want a DB breaking up the ball every single play and him dancing all in my face as well. I could understand why things may be the way they are and you are going to have to be able to handle it.
Q: Is there any chance that you would tone it down a little bit having known that?
A: I still have to play with the same passion and come to the field the same way every time. People are going to talk, you’re going to talk, you get caught up in the game, it’s heat of the moment, things are going to get said, and after the game, all is forgotten. At the end of the day, you’re out there to compete, so there are no hard feelings or bad blood between anybody that you ever play against. It’s just kind of one of those things, I want to do better than you, I don’t want you to be able to leave the field and say you got the best of me, or anything like that. That’s where it’s at.
Q: Have you disciplined yourself to walk away from situations where guys are baiting you?
A: Turn the other cheek, turn the other cheek. Martin Luther King or Malcom X approach, whichever one you want to go for. Like I said, it’s going to happen all year and how you handle it is up to you. I’ve got guys out there counting on me to do my role just the same as I count on everyone else does there, so just making sure we all do our job, and I think it’ll benefit us all.
