Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
August 16, 2018
Joint Practice with Detroit
Re: the draft process
A: You really don’t know where you’re going to go. I had no idea I was going to be where I’m at today. I thought that Tampa Bay was a possibility. I thought Buffalo was a possibility – and they traded up and got (Chiefs WR) Sammy (Watkins). Tampa took (WR) Mike Evans, I think. Who was right before Detroit with the ninth pick? I can’t remember, but I thought I was possibly going to have that. And then 10th, I was like alright, I’m going to go to Detroit – didn’t happen. Then, fell to 12th with the Giants. So, I think it worked out perfectly. But, I do remember that.
Q: Do you ever think about what could have been with (Former Lions All-Pro WR) Calvin Johnson, (WR) Golden Tate, and you, with (QB) Matt Stafford throwing the ball?
A: Not really right now. I’m sure I thought about it during that time, and it would’ve been a great opportunity. But, everything happens for a reason.
Q: What have these two days of hard practice against the Lions done for you in terms of getting back in the swing of things?
A: It was cool to be able to go against somebody else. We’ve been going against our guys every day, and they know everything that you’re doing. It’s hard to beat somebody who sees you every single day. So, to be able to go against other guys, compete, practice hard and practice safe, it was a lot of fun to be back out there. You know, I’ve been going against (Lions CB Darius) Slay since Mississippi State. Every time I see him, it’s always good energy.
Q: What about Darius Slay stands out to you?
A: Obviously, he’s been one of the best corners in the league. He’s been doing his thing for a while. Like I said, we’ve been competing since college. It’s always been hard every time we’ve gone against each other. We just like to compete. We’re both guys who love to play football and compete.
Q: Have you learned anything about yourself this week in terms of where you stand with your production?
A: I don’t really know how to answer it. Right now, I’m really just trying to get back to the best that I can possibly be. So, to go out there and to be able to work some of the techniques, work on some of the things you’ve been working on and go against somebody else, it was a good confidence builder. We’ve been doing it in practice. You put the pads on, you go against somebody else. It was a lot of fun. It was much needed.
Q: How do you feel about playing in a preseason game? Do you feel as if it’s best to wait it out until the regular season?
A: Coach (Shurmur) and I have a game plan. We usually figure it out and we just go from there. So, we’ll see what it is for this week, and then worry about next week when it comes.
Q: Did you get more out of these three days than you would in a preseason game?
A: There were some periods where I remember I was going eight plays in a row, or something like that. You kind of build up that wind. And even in practice, I’ve been getting pushed a lot at practice. Asking for reps just because I need it. I need to feel that. I need to feel eight to ten plays, maybe 15 plays, and just kind of get that back. It’s just very helpful to be able to come out and go against somebody else and compete. Every day that you have the chance to go out on the field, we have a chance to get better right now. So, that’s all I’m focusing on.
Q: Do you feel healthy enough to play? Is it a health issue? Is it getting your sea legs back underneath you?
A: It’s just about timing. Whenever it’s time to go, it’ll be time to go. I’m feeling pretty good, I’m feeling fast, it’s starting to come back to me. I’m just very thankful to be where I’m at right now.
Q: Given the circumstances, when did you decide you were comfortable with the risk of practicing against another team, going out there and getting closer to a game?
A: I just need it, the season is coming up. You need that work, I can’t really shy away from it right now. Like I said, once your ankle snaps and you felt like your whole world is turned upside down, you see things a little different now. To just be able to simply walk again, to run again, to do those things. It really was a blessing, so right now any chance I get to go out on the field and practice my craft, I’m going as hard as I can.
Q: Odell, when that video came out of you in March, in Paris, was that any kind of turning point?
A: That’s not what we’re here to talk about, we’re here to talk about football. Any other questions you can ask me another time.
Q: Do you trust that the organization will do right by you given that you’re doing right by what a player playing for an organization should do?
A: I definitely think it’s going to work itself out. When is it going to happen? You don’t know. That’s the business side that is still new to me in a sense, this is the first time I’ve had to deal with this or go through any of those things. I believe that it’s going to work itself out, it’s just a matter of time. Just like everything in life, it’s timing.
Q: Do you get updates on that? Do you ask for updates on that?
A: I’ll let them figure it out. Right now, I just want to be back on the field. It feels good out there to run routes, to catch passes, to be able to be with those guys, grinding every day. We’re up at seven, we have meetings, this, that, just to be back in the swing of things, I just feel like I’m back in love with what I’ve always loved.
Q: Before the Jaguars, do you need to play in a game and get hit and catch the ball and feel what all that stuff is about or is that overrated?
A: I mean, I don’t know. I’ve been playing football all my life, football is always going to be football. I can go in preseason and get hit a million times and go in a game and get hit once. I can go in preseason and get hit once, you never know, every play in football is a dangerous play. I feel very confident in myself and, like I said, I’ve been playing football all of my life, so it’s always going to be football to me.
Q: Do you feel for Saquon (Barkley)?
A: Feel for him? Yeah, I mean, I don’t know how you pull your hamstring as a rookie, that’s unreal (laughter). Like I told him, just take your time. There’s nothing you need to prove to any of us, there’s nothing you need to prove to anybody. You know what you’re capable of, I know what you’re capable of, we know what you’re capable of, it’s just about getting healthy. I remember I think I pulled my hamstring my rookie year, and just having to deal with that, I kind of can give him some insight on what I went through. But at the same time, I still have to step back because it’s his journey and you have to let him make his decisions. But just trying to keep his spirits up, he wants to be out there, he’s always been a guy who works hard. Just keeping his mind right, man, he’s going to be good come September 9th and that’s all that really matters now.
