Transcript: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

WR Odell Beckham Jr.

June 14, 2016

Q: Are you happy to see Victor [Cruz] out there and the way he looked today?

A: Absolutely. You know, it’s been a long road— him and I talk about it every single day. There is nobody who wants to be out there more than him. At the end of the day, this is what we’ve been doing since we were little. Nobody wants to stop now, and I know he’s got that chip on his shoulder. The talks everyday are just patience— you know, the time is coming. I feel like he’s worked too hard to have any kind of setbacks now looking forward to August where it really counts and where we’re looking to have everybody back, so I know he’s excited to be out there and I know it’s a hard line to get your opportunity to go and not try and go a little bit more than you should. It’s just the competitive nature in us all. I remember I kind of did the same thing— I wanted to get back and it’s just hard to be taken away from what you love and be out as long as he’s been out.

Q: Last year when he was attempting to come back, you guys talked a lot about how great it would be together and how great the offense would be— knowing what happened last year, are you hesitant at all to think or dream ahead a little bit to what you guys can accomplish?

A: No, I don’ think anything has changed. I think it’s the same mindset. I think we still talk about those same things. I sent him a picture of him holding the trophy looking like he was about to cry… I just clown on him every now and then because at the end of the day, that’s what you play for. You play for those moments— we’re able to cherish those with our brothers and I’m looking forward to being able to play with him. Like I said, it’s just a matter of staying patient.

Q: As a fellow receiver, when you see him go out there and test it, can you also have a keen eye and look and say, “Wow, he passed that test. I know he can do it now.” Are you mindful of that?

A: I think for the most part it’s more of a mindset of just understanding where you’re at and knowing— not that this isn’t so much important— but that more important days are ahead. And staying focused on the bigger picture and not, you know, having a good three days of camp and practicing and getting back when you have another four to six weeks, or however long it is, to get healthier.

Q: Is that something that you’ve had to develop yourself? Because out here it seems like, not that you’re dialing it back, but you know we haven’t seen you as active…

A: Uhh… yeah, it’s tough. And I’ve talked to coaches about it and just stuff like that because at the end of the day, this is my sanctuary— this is where I come and I feel free. This is my getaway from all the outside distraction that this world provides. This is the only place where I can’t be bothered or… I’m really just free when I get out here. I feel like a kid again. So for me to come here and not feel as involved or not get as much action, and to be here more to feel like I’m trying to embrace this leadership role, it’s hard because I’m not a very vocal leader— I kind of lead by action— so if you’re not really out there leading by action, there’s days where I have to grow up myself and still get something out of it. Whether I’m helping a younger guy out, and just talking more amongst the group and really just focusing on doing as much as I can each and every day.

Q: Do you think Coach McAdoo is emphasizing rest a little bit more?

A: Yeah, you know we have some break periods where we just slow the tempo down a little bit. It allows you to catch your wind. You know, we have TV timeouts in the game, we have TV timeouts in practice. I think it’s just all a mindset. I think he’s just preparing us for what’s ahead.

Q: You mention getting away from those outside distractions— you have had headlines made this offseason by where you’ve stayed, who you’ve maybe associated with— does that ever bother you at all, the attention that you draw? Is it good to get back to football and get away from that?

A: It’s great to get back to football, but at the end of the day, I hate that that causes so much distraction for my team and for myself. Especially when a lot of the stuff is not so much true, and there’s just all kinds of things that they come up with. It’s what comes with the territory, though, so… [laughs] I just have to get used to it.

Q: Victor had said that he was hoping to accelerate a little bit during this minicamp and actually get out there— were you guys as a receiving corps at all surprised that he was able to take a few reps today, and if so, what was the initial reaction when you guys actually saw him get out there and catch a pass?

A: No, I don’t think I was surprised to see him. You know, like I said, it’s hard to sit out for that long and not be thirsty, be hungry to get on the field again— which he is— but like I said, you just have to keep in mind the bigger picture. There’s bigger days that are in August coming up that we need him all the way back for, so I don’t want to say that there’s no point in you doing this right now, but in the end there really is no point. It’s more about getting ready for training camp.

Q: How does Sterling [Shepard] look to you? And does he seek you out?

A: He’s going to be a phenomenal player. He can run routes, he can catch, he can pretty much do it all. So I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him develop. The first couple of days, it’s hard— it’s hard to learn a new offense, and you come in as a guy who was drafted, you already feel like you’ve got something to prove— so you’d see him making mental errors of him just thinking, and now you see him getting out there and feeling more comfortable and just playing. I just feel like I really know what he’s capable of and I’d rather let him just shock the world than spill his secrets.

Q: I think you tweeted something right after he was drafted or something like that. You seemed excited…

A: Yeah he was definitely a steal— a guy who could’ve went first round but he’s at where he’s at for a reason, and I’m happy he’s here. And I really think that he’s going to do some pretty amazing things for this team this year.

Q: Can you fast forward a little bit— he’s on the field, Victor is on the field, what does that do for you?

A: [Makes touchdown signal with arms] Touchdown. It’s too many weapons, it’s hard. Last year we had a lot of teams rolling coverages my way and Coach McAdoo did a great job of just moving me around, putting me in the right place at the right time, and giving me the opportunity to make plays. Now you can’t do that so much—you try and roll somebody this way, you put Shep one on one, and I’ve seen what he can do. So, I’m happy with that— if you want to roll people my way, you want to emphasize me more, you’ve got 80 and 87 or whatever number he’s going to wear that are going to pick you apart essentially. We’ve got backs coming out the backfield— Bobby Rainey, a guy who I’ve seen be able to get open on third down, third-and-five, get us a first down and keep drives alive. Shane [Vereen], all these other weapons, I just don’t see us not being successful. I don’t think that’s the mindset of this team.

Q: What’s this offseason program been like for you compared to maybe your past two years?

A: It’s been quiet. Like I’ve said, it’s hard to come out here and you not… ever since I was at LSU, I’m maxing out every day in practice. I’m going as if it’s a game. And that may not be the best way to train, but it’s all I know, so to come here and to feel like I short myself on days or I don’t get what I need to get out of a day, it’s hard. It’s hard to go home and not be frustrated when you feel like you come to work and you don’t really get to work. This offseason has been a little quieter, I guess, on the football field. Not so much everywhere else— I think things like to just pop up and get displayed, so…

Q: What have you learned about managing all that off-field fame?

A: I don’t know. Like I said, I feel like it kind of comes with the territory— I feel like if I hid under a rock for 364 days and I came out on the 365th and someone saw me somewhere, there’s going to be a story about it. Something is going to happen, I’m going to hear about it, it’ll be here and it’ll be there. I think people just need something to talk about sometimes, so…

Q: How do you feel about being that something?

A: I remember coming into the league, I wanted… there were guys, Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans, guys who are brothers in my class. They’re guys who I compete against, who I wanted to be talked about the way that they were talked about. I was like, ‘Man, they never talk about me.’ And I tell people now, be careful what you ask for, because I used to crave that— I used to want to be talked about and people to know what I was capable of, and now it’s like they want to know everything. They want to know each and every detail, and like I said, I really tell them just be careful what you ask for.