Myers outlines cautionary tale to New York Giants Beckham
By Curt Macysyn
Odell Beckham needs to remember that not every story has a happy ending.
Clearly the affable New York Giants receiver is the toast of the Big Apple. In addition to football, Beckham’s charm and personality have made him a desired pitchman. And we all know that in the NFL, as in life, we tend to ignore the foibles of the folks we like.
So kudos to Gary Myers of the New York Daily News for raising the “Beckham issue” before training camp. As some of us know, dedicated fans and athletes may not want to hear the truth. The word fan is a derivative of fanatic, and in some cases, fans allow their heroes to get away with too much.
Heck, the Dr. Phil Show exists because folks are often reluctant to see something for what it is. In today’s society, we even have debates over what laws (immigration) can be ignored. So why should athletics be any different?
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In the case of Odell Beckham, there’s a lot to like.
"As Myers pointed out on Tuesday, “When you report to your fourth training camp with the Giants on Thursday, your approval rating with Giants fans will be at its peak after your act of kindness last week. Going out of your way to travel to Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle to cheer up a nine-year-old boy suffering with a rare form of cancer was heartwarming. You are Jayro Ponce’s favorite player and through the magic of social media and the Make-A-Wish Foundation the meeting came together. Nice job.”"
In other cases, Beckham’s on-field and sideline theatrics clearly cross the line. Punching the wall at Lambeau Field, assaulting the kicking net and getting in the face of game officials are not becoming of a superstar or role model.
Excuses, excuses…
For those of you ready to rip Myers a new one, consider this. He has been covering football in this town since 1989. Myers has seen plenty of players come and go. Unlike the ex-jocks who permeate the cable channels, Myers see things for what they are.
He’s made a living at it.
He famously mixed it up with former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber. For those who don’t remember, Barber was once a favorite son of Giants Stadium. Ironically, he abruptly left, and the team won a couple of Super Bowls without him.
Those championship teams included a coach who couldn’t coach in Barber’s opinion. And a quarterback who couldn’t win the big one. Barber never apologized and has been marginalized by New York Giants fans ever since.
New York Giants
"Myers is on point when he writes, “There are going to be flashpoints during the season when it will become evident if you are growing up. Norman is already baiting you. Beat him on one of those 15-yard slants you take all the way and then take advantage of the new dancing rules in the NFL to rub it in. But don’t let him drag you into a fight. Don’t pout if Brandon Marshall has seven catches and two TDs in a season-opening victory in Dallas and Eli has only targeted you three times.”"
The time for this discussion is now, not when adversity hits and a losing streak comes looking for a scapegoat. Professionals thrive when expectations are laid out for them.
Perhaps, we were all shocked when a talent like Beckham dropped to 12th in the NFL Draft. New York Giants fans were desperate for relevancy, and Beckham immediately brought that to the team.
This week starts a new year, with expectations different than they were in 2014.
The NFL has seen its fair share of superstars who thrived on lousy clubs. Names like Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson and LaDainian Tomlinson come to mind. The real test for Beckham comes when he can truly incorporate his game and personality into the fabric of a championship team.
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