Once you’re fully comfortable for the weekend, grab one of your dog’s favorite toys and throw it into the air. Tennis balls always work great, as do the squeaky toys.
If your furry friend leaps high to snag the ball, then congratulations: They officially have more catches than New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
We mean that with respect to both your dog and the three-time Pro Bowler, who has been a non-factor in the Giants’ offense thus far. Even after Calvin Austin III’s season-ending knee injury and Darnell Mooney’s slow start, neither Jaxson Dart nor Jameis Winston threw Beckham’s way through the first two games.
Beckham’s return to New York has been heartwarming, even going back to fans and players calling for management to bring back one of the most celebrated players in recent history. But unless he breaks out against the lowly Titans on Sunday, it’s time for all sides to strongly consider moving on.
Should the New York Giants release veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr.?
Let’s take a step back and explain why we used “bittersweet” earlier. The tricky part with reunions, as the Giants are quickly realizing with Beckham, is what happens when the honeymoon period ends.
That’s not to say the Giants should regret signing Beckham, who’d previously played for John Harbaugh in Baltimore. There was enough familiarity with both the team and the staff to justify giving him an opportunity in the preseason, even as we repeatedly urged the team and its fans to temper their expectations.
There’s no revisionist history to be had here, either. The Mooney and Beckham signings were both justifiable in their own ways, and neither has worked as intended. At least Mooney is several years younger than Beckham, though that didn’t help him throughout the offseason.
Those who still believe in Beckham should hope the change from Dart to Winston somehow means more targets. You don’t need to have a scouting degree to know that Winston is far less mobile than Dart, and common sense suggests the Giants will need to adjust part of their offensive game flow.
Beckham might also have more time than we’re giving him credit for, because there aren’t many proven options available. As of Sept. 25, the Giants have four receivers on their practice squad: Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre, Jalin Hyatt, and Charlie Jones. We don’t imagine you’ll be winning many “Madden” games with that group, assuming you’re not someone who plays on rookie mode.
As of Friday afternoon, there is no indication the Giants intend to make Beckham a healthy scratch on Sunday. Malik Nabers, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Rams, fully participated in Thursday’s practice.
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