WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Postgame vs. Carolina, December 20, 2015
Q: Did things between you and Norman go too far?
A: It is unfortunate that we lost. It is what we have been dealing with all season as far as finishing games, and it hurts to lose games like that --- it hurts to have to watch a game-winning field goal go up two times against undefeated, great teams. It is unfortunate and kind of in the way of our season.
Q: You and Norman, did it go too far?
A: Like I said, it is unfortunate that we lost. It was a very tough game. They are a great team. There is a reason they are 14-0, they finish games like that and they did that today.
Q: Coach Coughlin said you lost your composure in the first half. Do you agree with him?
A: Like I said, it is unfortunate that we lost. Going against a great team like that, you want to beat them, you know what you are up against and you want to win and you are going to compete.
Q: Three personal fouls --- is that something you obviously don’t want to do in games?
A: Definitely not --- you never want to hurt your team like that. I have learned it all throughout my life, you know, always the second man gets called, always that it is just unfortunate --- you go back and watch the film tomorrow and you learn from it.
Q: Is it difficult in this physical of a game to keep your emotions in check?
A: No, it is not. You are out there competing, competing against one of the best teams in the league. Anybody that has a passion for football is going to go as hard as they can, so like I said, it is unfortunate that we lost to such a great team. They continue their streak, they are obviously one of the best teams in the league and, like I said, it is not fun losing games.
Q: You had zero catches in the first half, which is unusual for you…
A: Two drops on my behalf. I dropped a post, it was just --- those moments, I told people before, it is almost not even real. Those are the fairly tale moments you look to and opportunities --- like I always say, opportunities, they come and they go, you can either seize the moment or let them go by, and it was one that you thought was so easy and you let it go by and that is a moment you can never have back, and on top of that, the other ball hit my hands, so that is two plays that I could have had and sparked this team.
Q: Do you purposely do not want to talk about Josh Norman?
A: No, like I said, this is a tough game going against a team like that. They are 14-0 for a reason, and it is unfortunate we lost the way we did.
Q: Were you at all worried about getting thrown out?
A: No, we are out there playing football, we are competing. You are a competitor; I’m a competitor. We are always going to go at it. Anybody who has played sports --- you are competitive and you are going to go as hard as you can.
Q: Was it personal?
A: I don’t know what that means.
Q: Was something said beforehand?
A: Nothing was said.
Q: Was it tough not to contemplate how that game might have been different had you held on to that apparent touchdown?
A: Coulda, woulda, shoulda. We could have scored the first week in Dallas and won, could have the game, there [are] many of balls I could have caught. I don’t think about “coulda, woulda, shoulda’s.” You keep going from there. Like I said, it is unfortunate that I let an opportunity pass right through my hands --- you blow by the defender and Eli puts it exactly where it needs to be and you couldn’t have asked for a better ball, couldn’t have asked for a better play and I just let the opportunity go.
Q: Did the refs say anything after that helmet-to-helmet hit?
A: I didn’t know what the flag was for so I can’t really speak much on it.
Q: You did take a run at him and hit him in the helmet. With the NFL’s concern about head safety, is there any concern on your part that there will be consequences for you?
A: Not really. You can go look at the film, I caught a slant and the man is diving across my face. Like I said, this is a tough game.
great player, has some maturing to do
OBJ is an all world talent, and he has the brightest of bright careers ahead of him, but he needs to gain some maturity and fast. Management would be wise to bring in a veteran WR who can be a mentor. There is a lot on the kid's shoulders right now and when its going well he can handle it, but when it gets frustrating, he blows up. He has to change that if he is going to be great.
Players lose their composure, it happens. But Odell should own up to it after the emotion is over.
He's a huge talent but it's hard to root for a guy like that. I hope somebody gets through to him and he grows up.