Report: Odell Beckham still not at Giants OTAs

Odell Beckham was apparently going to show up at OTAs on Thursday, but that reportedly did not happen.

The New York Giants started team-wide offseason work on Monday, but wide receiver Odell Beckham was notably not present. A report suggested he would show up on Thursday, but that has apparently not happened.

Pictures of Beckham working out with Johnny Manziel surfaced this week, and he has already complained about media coverage making things up. A headline from the New York Post suggesting Beckham chose Manziel over his teammates seems to be the target of that derision, and it is an incredible reach.

Beckham may not be happy with his contract, which calls for him to make $1.8 million this year and $8.5 million under the fifth-year team option the Giants made the no-brainer decision to pick up. He is in line for a massive contract extension based on his performance, but the Giants have bought themselves a little bit of time.

During this fairly idle time on the NFL calendar, stories about significant players skipping voluntary OTAs take center stage and get blown out of proportion. This is the perfect storm of Beckham, with his prior antics in mind, and the New York media running with his absence as well as an apparent decision to work out apart from his teammates. In late May it shouldn’t really matter, but Beckham has become a lightning rod and he’s an easy target for criticism on any and everything.

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As long as Beckham is present (and in good physical condition) for the mandatory part of offseason work, reports to training camp on time and is ready when the lights go on Week 1, the Giants won’t care where he is working out right now. But teammates and coaches will be asked about his absence, and that alone invites a distraction Beckham should be trying to avoid.