New York Giants: The world is Beckham’s oyster

“I never said, ‘I want to be alone.’ I only said, ‘I want to be left alone.’ There is all the difference,” Greta Garbo

For millennials, Greta Garbo was a famous actress in 1920s and 1930s. Garbo famously retired from films in 1941, at the height (or what could have been) of her career. How does this relate to Odell Beckham and the New York Giants? Well, keep on reading.

Now, I realize that she existed long before many readers were born, but you might want to look her up anyway. She is an interesting figure, as is Odell Beckham, Jr.

I realize the difference between Garbo and Beckham is like comparing night and day. Beckham loves the spotlight, no matter how much he says he doesn’t. If that’s what floats his boat, so be it.

Then again, anointing Beckham, the greatest receiver of all-time jump starts a complex exercise. He may end up as that. Then again, he might not. What remains indisputable is the long road to travel to before we get to an iron clad conclusion on Beckham.

In the meantime, look up Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth, Drew Pearson, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Monk and Steve Largent. These guys played when the football was not routinely thrown 50 times per game.

Understand it was a different era. Not better or worse, just different. The passing statistics of today become inflated compared to yesteryear.

Bend it like Beckham

The drama and pain of being Odell remains front and center. No doubt, he’s a unique talent. The best of all-time? Thankfully for millennials, this has already been decided. Remember, we always get to create the narrative before the actuality takes place. Something or someone is successful because we say so.

New York Giants

Don’t get me wrong, Beckham is clearly on his way to NFL records, but so were Sterling Sharpe and Michael Irvin. Look up what happened to those guys.

In fact, New York Giants fans only have to look at the dynamic duo that could have been. The “real” Victor Cruz and Beckham lasted only a handful of snaps.

Everyone who doesn’t gush about Beckham isn’t a “haters”. Gary Myers of the New York Daily News simply gave constructive criticism. Agast at Beckham’s treatment, the millennials struck back.

Sorry folks, Myer has a point.

I ask this. Would any self-respecting media person write this? “Beckham tried really hard against the Green Bay Packers in last season’s playoffs. I could tell he put his heart and soul into every play.”

Professional athletes aren’t the only ones who put their heart and soul into their work. Furthermore, there are plenty of folks who actually toil harder than athletes under worse conditions. Athletes don’t have the corner market on hard work.

Back to Garbo

According Tara Sullivan of Bergen Record, New York Giants players largely ignore what Beckham says. I guess that’s good. And for the record, I have yet to see anything written that questions Beckham’s commitment on the field.

The issue I have is the way he handles the public Beckham. Maybe I’m used to guys like Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald who simply let their play do the talking.

Even the talk of being the highest paid NFL player can be ignored. Keep in mind that his talk in that regard defies logic though. Have we heard Julio Jones or Antonio Brown bluster about their contracts? One could make an argument that they should be the most insulted by Beckham’s comments.

At any rate, the comments were controversial, so they need to be defended by the person who made them.

"“If I talk it’s a distraction, if I don’t talk it’s a distraction, so what am I supposed to do?” Beckham said. “So I’m going to speak my mind, I’m going to say how I feel, I’m going to answer pretty much whatever you have to ask and that’s just it. Everybody in that locker room knows what’s going on, they know why I’m here, they know I have nothing but love for them, that I’ve got their back no matter what and it’s the same the other way around. There’s nothing really that can get between me and my team.”"

Let’s get this clear, we want to hear from Beckham, but not just when he is affable and pleasant. We want to hear him take ownership of his play, especially when it doesn’t rise to the typical Beckham level.

In addition, some of us are also intelligent enough to know the difference between gibberish and cogent commentary. Cogent commentary need not get walked back. Some of the stuff that Beckham gets away with at the Nickelodeon awards may not pass muster with journalists.

As for you millennials, there have been many great NFL players who have been every bit of the superstar that Beckham is. These guys existed in a different era. In fact many great things happened before you were born. Check out You Tube. Read a book. Talk to a veteran.

There’s a world that exists outside of your smart phone.

And wanting to be left alone is an absolute. Just ask Terrell Owens.