Giants' Odell Beckham Jr.: 'I need to do more. I need to do better. Period.'
EAST RUTHERFORD — Odell Beckham Jr. talked to reporters for 10 minutes at his locker Friday morning, and there is plenty to take from the interview.
The star wide receiver for the New York Giants is not about to get into a war of words with co-owner and team president John Mara, who was critical of him earlier this week.
Not only did Beckham acknowledge hearing what Mara said, but one obvious observation is this: As the Giants move forward in advance of Monday night's game in Atlanta against the Falcons, he's apparently willing to also listen.
“I respect and value his opinion,” Beckham said Friday. "That’s what we’re gonna do: Focus on Atlanta right now. That’s really it. I’m ready to talk about the Atlanta Falcons and that’s really it. That’s the focus right now. We need to start winning games. I feel that. I want to win, too, just as bad as anybody else. That’s really it, I just wanna win."
Speaking at the owners' meetings earlier this week, Mara commented on Beckham's recent ESPN interview, which was perceived to be critical of the franchise.
"I wish he would create the headlines by his play on the field as opposed to what he says and what he does off the field," Mara told reporters. "I think he needs to do a little more playing and a little less talking."
Through six games, Beckham is on pace for what would be a career-high in receptions (120) and 1,349 yards, the third-highest total of his career. He has dropped one pass this season: A fourth-and-3 attempt from Eli Manning on a crossing route that would have gone for a first down in the Giants' 33-31 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 7.
“My focus is on football," Beckham said. "I need to do more. I need to do better. Period.”
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That goes for the entire roster, which is what Mara also indicated in a perceived defense of Eli Manning. Beckham says he found humor in a recent report that suggested there were players in the locker room who were frustrated with Manning's play and would embrace a quarterback change.
"I laughed," Beckham said when asked for his reaction. "I don’t think that’s the case. What did you say, the players are frustrated? I think we’re frustrated that we’re 1-5 and we’re losing. Everybody wants to win, that’s really it, I don’t think that ever wasn’t really the case."
Beckham said he still believes the Giants can rally around Manning and get to where they want to go this season. "Take me home, 10," is the message Beckham says he delivers in the huddle before every series.
Asked to critique Manning's play, Beckham added: "I think that we’re 1-5. We need to start winning games. Everybody needs to play better. I need to play better. I can’t say that I’ve had my best game. I can't say that I’ve done enough to help this team win and I need to do more. Everybody needs to do more. Everybody's got to figure it out."
Email: stapleton@northjersey.com