Odell Beckham Jr. returns punt in sumo outfit (Video)
By Phil Naegely
Odell Beckham Jr. returned a punt in a sumo wrestler outfit during Pro Bowl week in Orlando.
Despite the NFL Pro Bowl not being played in Hawaii any longer, it’s still a fun experience for NFL players. On Friday, Odell Beckham Jr. took punt returning to a new level by running Marquette King’s punt back in a sumo wrestler outfit.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/825153962953302017
NFL players would rather be preparing for a Super Bowl game than being in the Pro Bowl. However, they still have a fun time throughout the week’s events leading up to the Pro Bowl. The event pits the best of the best against each other in what is usually a high scoring event. Beckham Jr. showed off his footwork. It’s hard enough to walk in a sumo outfit, but the New York Giants receiver ran well with the added weight.
Beckham Jr. is a beast on the field when getting past his defender. It’s not only his speed that gets him an advantage offensively. His explosiveness from the line and his ability to switch directions almost simultaneously cause defenders to falter easily. It doesn’t hurt either that Beckham can pull down some ridiculous catches that leave the fans in awe.
While this exercise was Beckham Jr. just enjoying some time with King, football players training in sumo outfits could be the next trend across the league. It causes players to run slower due to the added weight. As a result, they have to focus on digging into the ground more and their footwork. This would be a great exercise for working on the little, minor details that make a big difference. On game days players would feel lighter out on the field and allow them to feel like they are running faster.
Okay, nah, that’s just a joke and it’s just funny to see ODB in a sumo suit having some fun.
This year Pro Bowl participants played dodgeball. Maybe the league will sponsor sumo wrestling as part of the fun at the 2018 Pro Bowl. It’s an event that could pay off ratings-wise as fans tune in to see their favorite player wrestle.