EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Breaking his left ankle and having his career put in jeopardy has given New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. a new perspective on life and football.

Speaking to reporters here for the first time since getting hurt in a game in early October, Beckham on Saturday was thankful to be back on the field and seemingly more relaxed and more mature.

The 25-year-old said he was not worrying about upcoming contract talks, even though he admits he is taking a calculated risk being in training camp coming off an injury and in the final year of his rookie contract.

“I literally watched my world turn upside down,” said Beckham, whose ankle snapped in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 8. “I watched relationships close to me devour and things go wrong, and things go sideways. It was a lot of pain that I went through the last 10 months.

“So, just kind of taking it day by day and trying my best to just make my mindset every day that I wake up I am going to be happy,” the three-time Pro Bowler said. “I am going to do this right. I am going to do the very best that I can in whatever it is, whatever it is I am doing. I changed my mindset and it has helped me a lot in everything.”

The 10-month rehabilitation was not only tough, Beckham also had to deal with reports that the Giants were considering trading him and the never-ending social media tweets and video about his life off the field.

Beckham called the trade talk rumor and noise that he has now learned to ignore.

“I remember I used to say all the time: ‘Don’t take it personal’ and stuff, but I still took things personal and I really have gotten that out of my heart to not take anything personal,” he said. “And with doing that, it’s left things that I used to worry about out of the equation. So, once you can really put that in your heart, don’t take it personal and you can feel that, it’s a completely different story.”

Beckham’s agent Zeke Sandhu was at the Giants’ workout Thursday and was seen speaking to assistant general manager Kevin Abrams for almost two hours on the patio overlooking the field.

Beckham had said he wants to be the highest paid receiver in the game and that has not changed. However, he said he is leaving the contract talks in the hands of his agent and when something happens, it happens. He added if a deal isn’t completed before the start of the season, he would cross that bridge at that time.

BROWNS: Josh Gordon hasn’t reported to Cleveland’s training camp, but his presence is being felt on the field.

Fellow wide receiver Rashard Higgins is wearing his gear under his uniform at each practice.

“That’s my locker buddy, and I’m wearing his shirts every day,” Higgins said Saturday. “That’s why I feel like I’ve got superpowers when I come out here.”

Gordon, whose nickname is Flash, remains away from the team as part of his treatment to battle drug and alcohol addictions. An NFL spokesman said the former Pro Bowl wideout has not been suspended.

Browns General Manager John Dorsey and Coach Hue Jackson remain confident that Gordon will return at some point, but no timetable has been set. Cleveland opens its preseason Thursday at the New York Giants.

“It will be like Josh never was gone when he comes back,” said Higgins, a third-year pro.

“That’s how we’re going to treat things. I feel like the team is a good supporting cast for him, just him knowing that we’re here for him and we’ve got his back, no matter what.”

FALCONS: Even as he enters his fourth season, Tevin Coleman is still taking notes from Falcons teammate Devonta Freeman on all the basics that go with being an NFL running back.

How to run. How to catch. How to block.

How to make teammates smile.

In training camp, Freeman’s contagious personality may be one of his biggest strengths. His ever-present smile can be a mood-lifter during long, hot practice days.

“It’s definitely effective,” Coleman said after Saturday’s practice. “Just having him here and bringing in the energy and getting other guys motivated to compete and work hard, just his presence here lightens everybody up. I like that.”

Freeman is especially upbeat this camp. He is relishing his return to good health following a sometimes scary 2017 season.

Freeman suffered two concussions last year. He spent the last two weeks of the preseason in concussion protocol before suffering another concussion against Dallas on Nov. 12 that forced him to miss two games. A sprained right knee cut into his production late in the season.

TITANS: Tennessee added a pair of safeties to replace injured Johnathan Cyprien, and neither is named Eric Reid.

The Titans announced Saturday morning they have agreed to terms with Kenny Vaccaro and Jason Thompson.

A source familiar with the situation told The Associated Press that Reid was coming to Nashville to work out for the Titans. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team does not announce which players it is working out.

Reid has been unsigned since his rookie contract expired in March with the San Francisco 49ers. He filed a claim this spring after visiting with Cincinnati, arguing he was unsigned as a result of collusion by NFL owners over his protests of police brutality and racial inequality by kneeling during the national anthem.

LIONS: Detroit signed wide receiver Brian Brown and waived wide receiver Dom Williams.

Brown, who played college football at Richmond, entered the NFL with Dallas last year as an undrafted free agent.

« Previous

Next »

Related Stories