WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Conference Call, December 9, 2015
Q: How would you describe the competitiveness between you and Jarvis Landry?
A: It’s hard to describe it. It’s not just typical receiver competitiveness, I guess, where you’re really comparing the numbers as much as I just want to see him be the greatest receiver of all time and I think it’s the same for me. We’re going to push each other to be the best as we possibly can. I definitely, I have been so happy just to be able to see all the hard work and things that we were doing just pay off in the past couple of years.
Q: So will you be rooting for him during the game Monday night?
A: I can’t say that out loud, but I always want to see him do well. It’s unfortunate it’s against my team, but I hope they do a great job at containing or doing whatever they need to do, but at the same time, I always love seeing him succeed.
Q: What’s one thing you can tell us about Jarvis that most people would not know?
A: Hmm. I mean, there are obviously things, there’s always skeletons and stuff in the closest. I think the biggest thing about him is if you guys don’t already know it is just the genuineness of the person that he is. There’s not that many people that are really made, act, or carry themselves the way he does in this world. He’s a pretty standout guy. I’m definitely proud of him and that’s why we’ve been as close as we are.
Q: I think Jarvis said in the past that he may have done the one-handed catches first at LSU and you may have picked it up from him. Can you just confirm once and for all just how that all started for you two?
A: It started back in college, he came in as the number one receiver and the guy who I had watched already in high school and both probably having their fair share of crazy catches and stuff in high school, to go into college and just seeing that this is something he really had taken to another level as far as catching the ball in one hand and it’s something that I was just so fascinated by somebody who wanted to think outside the box, to think about things that could happen and put yourself in those situations. We worked on it, I wouldn’t say every day, but there was no point in time if we had a football in our hand that we’re not throwing back and forth trying to catch with one hand. It definitely has come a long way since we first started.
Q: He said the best catch that he ever saw you make was actually in a practice at LSU. He couldn’t really describe it, but it had to do with you catching the ball behind your head. Do you have any idea what he’s talking about?
A: I’m pretty sure I do. We had our fair share of crazy catches, I mean he had two one-hand catches back to back years against Arkansas, two ridiculous catches. In practice, I mean, words really don’t do it justice. I can’t even sit here and try and give you a good enough picture, it’s something that you just have to see, but the things that he was doing as far as being able to catch the ball, you’re right on the go-route and it’s almost as if he fakes it like the ball was going to be laid in front of him, made the DB stick his arms out there and caught the ball one-handed on a back shoulder and turn the DB around and score. The things that he has done, I just don’t, it really doesn’t do justice for it.
Q: Would you guys be getting together before the game?
A: I’m pretty sure on that. As soon as I land, I’ll be able to go down and just see him, hang for a while, maybe grab some food, I don’t know what exactly there is to do as far as time permits, but definitely will enjoy getting to see him.
Q: Can you tell us about the pre-catch tape?
A: It’s a collection of stuff that we’ve had in college. Just some pretty impressive grabs made by him and myself. It’s kind of one of those tapes that it will tell a story just from watching.
Q: Jarvis said you guys will be doing something before the game for the fans. What are you thinking? What do you think will be a good idea?
A: I don’t know, man. I guess we will have to wait and see, but I’m definitely looking forward to it. This is a game that, I know you take it one game at a time, but it’s been marked on the schedule for a long time. Just an opportunity like this to play against a brother in the National Football League is something that I don’t want to say I never imagined possible, but just it finally being here is all so surreal. It should be a wonderful opportunity.
Q: When did you guys become really close?
A: It was at a 7-on-7 (camp) in Tuscaloosa. I think it was junior year of high school and we kind of, since the minute we met, it was something about us that just—I don’t know how to describe it, we just knew immediately what the relationship was and what the connection was and just went from there. It went from me driving down on the weekends come spend the weekend with him and him coming to New Orleans. Whatever the case may be, it’s definitely been a wonderful relationship.
