New York Giants: Real Big Blue fans don’t just talk Beckham

I get it, millennials. When someone says or writes anything not completely flattering about Odell Beckham, it’s a shot at you. You interpret those words as criticism of your generation.

News flash folks, your generation is not perfect. And when the topic pivots to New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham, understand he is not perfect either. Beckham makes his fair share of mistakes. Keep in mind, our level of Beckham-awareness gets elevated by the player himself.

New York Giants

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It also has to be managed.

But there are more than a few of us who are tired of people being famous due to reality television. We have grown weary of the folks who remain relevant because of social media. And trust me, I criticize media-types for covering some of this stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching Odell Beckham. I also enjoy watching the New York Giants. Lately, it seems that people want me to decide what I like better, rooting for Beckham or rooting for the New York Giants.

You should know that I’ve watched the New York Giants for the better part of four decades now. I’ve watched Beckham for less than 10 percent of that time. I will continue to watch Big Blue long after Beckham is gone.

So my question becomes: will you?

Beckham fan or New York Giants fan?

Now just because I don’t kiss Beckham’s ass, doesn’t make me a hater. I repeat, I like watching him. I actually defended Beckham against Josh Norman back in the day. The team and gameday officials should have been proactive before the Carolina Panthers game.

Then again, he has not showed me much in terms of learning from that debacle.

I don’t know if you guys will even concede that he loves the limelight. He does. I won’t go as far as calling him an egomaniac. At this point, I don’t think that’s the case.

Others have.

I’m sure that criticism gets your blood boiling. But I question how much skin you have in the game. Do you actually go to MetLife Stadium on a regular basis? Or are you simply reacting to a headline?

Do you spend 3+ hours watching the game being played? Can you put your smart phone down for that long?

I raise the issue because you equate Beckham with New York Giants fandom. I figure it’s time to call you out on your credentials.

Slow Down

Once again, you guys don’t concede that there are areas where Beckham has shown poor judgment. A receiver punching a wall classifies as such.

Sorry, it does. But the rhetoric ramps ups when Jeff Diamond of The Sporting News gets personal.

"“Beckham goes beyond being self-assured to the persona of a cocky, obnoxious egomaniac. His pompous and spoiled act has to be wearing thin with the Giants execs and coaches. His teammates who are leaders, like Eli Manning and Landon Collins, have to roll their eyes and question Beckham’s level of commitment.”"

I agree that this sentiment is overly critical, but there exists a fine line here.

My generation happened to be home of the greatest receiver of all-time, Jerry Rice. Beckham and Rice are like comparing night and day. And that’s OK.

Can Beckham become the greatest receiver of all time?

You betcha.

Remember, Rice only caught 10 passes in his first three playoff games. Down the road, he became the greatest receiver of all-time, playing until he was 42-years old.

And he was a three-time Super Bowl champion.

That’s a lot of miles for Beckham to cover.

Film Don’t Lie

Hearing how much Beckham wants to win rang hollow after the playoff loss. The Green Bay Packers throttled the New York Giants 38-14. Beckham had four catches for 28 yards. He dropped a sure touchdown.

Those are the facts, and they are indisputable.

I never heard Beckham own those statistics. I did see Beckham on a boat trip before the game. Was Beckham’s boat trip (along with other receivers) the best thing for the New York Giants?

I highly doubt it, yet some folks will still defend it.

On the other hand, calling Beckham “overrated” as Jason Whitlock did, doesn’t pass the smell test either.  The truth, at this point, lies somewhere in the middle.

Keep this in mind, is Beckham’s presence putting more fannies in the seats at MetLife Stadium?

Sorry guys, he doesn’t. I first followed the team in an era when Giants Stadium was sold out every weekend, and the team was not that good! Even the great Lawrence Taylor was always part of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew. Can Beckham follow in LT’s foot steps?

Right now, there are regular season New York Giants tickets for sale on a reseller website. We talk about handing Beckham a large contract, but what’s the actual value to the New York Giants?

More fannies in the seats? No.

A Super Bowl championship? Not yet.

More people watching the games on television? Ratings were down.

From my vantage point, Beckham desires to be his own island. And mellennials want to have it both ways. You guys aren’t fully committed to being New York Giants fans, yet you want everyone to back off Beckham. Let this be a reminder that Beckham is part of the New York Giants, not the other way around.

Build up some street cred, and then we can talk.