WR Odell Beckham Jr.
September 21, 2017
Q: How do you feel physically after playing Monday night?
A: I came out straight. I didn’t have any setbacks or anything like that. So, keep ramping up the rehab. Just try to get as good as you can get, you know what I mean?
Q: So, you’re still getting treatment on top of practice?
A: Yeah. I don’t think that’s ever going to stop. I’ve been doing that since the hamstring. Going home, rehab, all of that stuff. So, I don’t think that’s going to stop now.
Q: Is there a chance you might not be right for the whole season?
A: I mean, I don’t know. The ankle is something you get on every single day. So, you never really know, but I’m going to get as good as I can get and I know once I’m comfortable cutting off in each and every way, I don’t see that there will be any problems with it, even if it’s not 100.
Q: Do you think about it a little bit?
A: It’s not so much I think about it, it’s just like actually when you make the cut. I remember I tried to make a cut in the game and I ended up having to jump over him because I couldn’t get up field. So, it’s just little things like that, but it’s coming back.
Q: Is it a matter of when you make a cut, you can still feel it?
A: Yeah, it’s not so much a mental thing, it’s when you actually go to make the cut and you turn out and you put force on it the same way that you created the injury, it’s a little difficult.
Q: But the good news is that the medical staff clears you to play, now it’s a matter of your tolerance, right?
A: Yeah, pretty much. It’s hard to get in the groove when you’re in and out. So, I look to play a lot more this week, in my opinion.
Q: Do you think you’re healthy enough to take over a game like you have in the past?
A: I mean I told you, my mind is on another level. I feel like I can take over a game at any time no matter ankle, anything like that. So, it’s just a matter of getting those opportunities and making the most of them. Just playing as a team, we have to play better in each and every phase. Defense, special teams, offense. We just got to do better.
Q: With this team at 0-2, how much do you want to be the difference maker?
A: 0-2, 16-0, I always want to be a difference maker and I think last year around week 5, we were 2-3. So, there is not really any panic in my eyes. I know it’s a long season. We didn’t have a good start. I know it’s cliché, but it is not about how you start, it’s how you finish, but it really is.
Q: You said you think you’re going to play more this week. Is that your hope or do you expect to?
A: That’s what’s going to happen.
Q: Are you lobbying the coaching staff or are they…
A: No, I’m playing.
Q: When you were at LSU, did you matchup against Jalen (Mills) a lot?
A: Yeah, Jalen and I went at it every single day. We fought, we competed every day. So, this is a guy who I’ve gone against, a guy who I’ve competed against, have respect for and I’m happy to see him in the league and doing his thing. Unfortunately, he plays for Philly, but it’s a guy who I’ve gone against, so I do expect to see him and the other corners as well. I know (Ronald) Darby went down, so they have some other guys filling in and stepping up and playing that role.
Q: Philly has pretty much owned you guys since you got here. Is there a common thread as to why this matchup is so difficult for the Giants?
A: I honestly couldn’t tell you. I was thinking about it the other day. I’m like every time I’ve gone to Philly, we’ve lost. They beat us at home, they just for some reason they’ve had our number, but this is our opportunity for a new year and to turn things around. This is a big game for us. We need a win and what better team to beat than Philly.
Q: Do you guys pay mind to Ben (McAdoo) being critical of Eli (Manning)?
A: To be honest, I used to pay a lot of attention to what is said outside of this building and stuff and now I really don’t. It’s going to make no difference to me what somebody says outside of here. So, I don’t pay any attention.
Q: But it’s inside.
A: Well, it’s outside because it’s getting brought into here. He said it, but it’s still getting written about. So, that to me isn’t going to bother me. I am still going to talk to 10 the same way. Me and 10 are still going to have the same mentality each and every day. So, honestly there is nothing that can really be said that’s going to make me feel a way about somebody on this team.
Q: Do you still believe in him?
A: All day, every day. I talk to him about passing up whoever is in front of him, touchdowns, yards, all of that. We talk about all of that. So, do I believe in 10? Absolutely. Is he going to lead us there? Absolutely. He’s done it before and I don’t see why he wouldn’t do it again. He just had a slow start, you know?
Q: How frustrating is it as a receiver when you run routes and before you even turn back, Eli is on his back?
A: It’s frustrating to not get the ball. Frustrating is not really the right word, so don’t quote me on that because now it will be I’m frustrated I don’t get the ball. As a receiver, you want the ball, period. So, to look back and you see Eli getting sacked, especially if you feel like you got open on this route, you might have finally got your break, you get open and he’s on the ground. It’s tough, it’s tough and I feel like we haven’t put our best foot forward, but that’s what you get these games for. It’s a chance to make yourself better and come out and do better than you did last week and that’s what we have to do.
Q: How do you stay even keeled despite the team being 0-2? Some people would say it’s time to panic.
A: Those people aren’t on this team, I don’t think. I don’t really see any panic. There is no fear in my heart about being 0-2. It’s just a time to dig deep, make plays when you need to make them, turn things around. You can go 0-5, win the next 11 and you never know. I think the Giants won a Super Bowl when they were 9-7 here, something like that. So, I don’t really count us out.
