Tag: Odell Beckham Jr.

10 NFL teams with new looks for 2020

Touchdown Wire looks at the 10 NFL teams that will have the most change in 2020.

The National Football League is all about change from year to year and 2020 is going to be no different.

Whether it’s a new head coach, different assistants, the additions of rookie or players switching teams, there are always teams that look totally different than the year before. That can be better or worse. But not many teams ever sit completely still.

The 2020 season is going to be full of teams with looks that are vastly different than 2019. Let’s take a look at the at the 10 teams that will have the biggest changes in looks in 2020.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Tomlin did perhaps his finest coaching job in 2019. He somehow kept his team in the playoff race until the end. He did that without injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Tomlin shuffled young quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges. With Roethlisberger back, the Steelers should get back to the playoffs in 2020. Just getting Roethlisberger back will change the Steelers’ look back to what it used to be.

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Report: Odell Beckham Jr. faces simple battery charge for slapping police officer on backside

There is more trouble for Odell Beckham Jr. after his antics following LSU’s victory over Clemson Monday in the CFP title game.

Cleveland Browns wideout and former LSU star Odell Beckham Jr. can’t seem to stay out of trouble and controversy.

After stirring things up by give Tiger players wads of cash following their College Football Playoff championship victory over Clemson, Beckham now is facing arrest warrant for slapping a police officer on the backside in the LSU locker room. The charge is simple battery in relation to a locker room interaction he had with a Mercedes-Benz Superdome police officer Monday.

Watch:

Per Nola.com:

A law enforcement source said authorities originally sought a warrant for a misdemeanor sexual battery charge, but it was declined by a judge. The warrant was redrafted asserting a count of simple battery, and it was approved.

The difference between the crimes is not insignificant.

Louisiana law defines misdemeanor sexual battery as the intentional touching of the breasts or buttocks of a victim who did not consent to the contact. While it carries a maximum of six months in jail, it is relatively more serious than other misdemeanors because it is not expungeable in the event of a conviction.

Louisiana law defines simple battery more simply as “battery committed without the consent of the victim.” That crime, upon conviction, calls for up to six months in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000. It also expungeable for first-time offenders.

Report: Warrant issued for the arrest of ex-Giants WR Odell Beckham

An arrest warrant has been issued for former New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. after he struck a security guard earlier this week.

Former New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has dominated headlines in recent days for his antics following LSU’s National Championship victory over Clemson on Monday night.

In addition to handing out cash to student-athletes, Beckham was also caught on camera interrupting the post-game speech of head coach Ed Orgeron and slapping a security guard on the backside and then taunting him.

As the result of Beckham’s poor decision, the New Orleans Police Department has obtained a warrant for the wide receiver’s arrest, reports NOLA.com.

New Orleans police on Thursday morning obtained an arrest warrant accusing NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. of simple battery in relation to a locker room interaction he had with a Superdome police officer Monday night.

A police spokesman said the warrant was issued after a video showed Beckham apparently slapping an officer’s buttocks after LSU’s championship game.

The Giants traded Beckham to the Cleveland Browns early in the offseason, but have publicly stated it had nothing to do with his character and was merely a football decision.

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The Odell Beckham Jr. LSU cash exchange should be a non-story

Odell Beckham Jr. apparently gave some LSU players cold hard cash after they won the national championship again Clemson. So what? Yes, that should be it. That should be the reaction. Instead, the reaction was this: Statement from #LSU on Odell …

Odell Beckham Jr. apparently gave some LSU players cold hard cash after they won the national championship again Clemson. So what? Yes, that should be it. That should be the reaction. Instead, the reaction was this:

Seriously, NCAA? Odell Beckham Jr. was excited his alma mater won the College Football Playoff. He threw out some money. It’s his money, and he can spend it how he wants . . . well except by giving it to some college kids who aren’t allowed to make money off their hard work and performance.

Yes, it is illegal under NCAA bylaws, but this reaction is exactly why everyone hates the NCAA. For years, players weren’t allowed to make money off their likeness. This wouldn’t affect the NCAA. It wouldn’t make these players non-amateurs in the eyes of many fans. Still, the NCAA pressed on. That’s slowly changing because the NCAA realized it couldn’t win the fight, but the fact that LSU had to report this action to the NCAA is ludicrous. Last time I checked, ESPN pays $5.6 billion for the television rights for the championship and CFP 6 bowls. That’s $470 million a year. What’s the most Odell could have given a kid last night? Maybe a few hundred dollars. It’s crazy.

There’s no way LSU could avoid this mess since Joe Burrow admitted Beckham Jr. was giving people cash on the Pardon My Take Podcast, but this shouldn’t be a story. It should be a cool thing. Now, it’s either funny or sad, and it’s tough to decide which one it is.

If Beckham only gave money to graduating seniors or players who were intending on declaring for the draft anyway, it’s even more confusing as to why this is a story. These players weren’t student-athletes the second after that clock struck zeroes and the party started on Bourbon street.

To recap: Odell Beckham Jr. gave money to players who can’t have a job, don’t get paid, and make the NCAA, conferences, coaches, ESPN, and everyone else involved a ton of money. They are the only people who don’t get compensated — and please don’t give me the scholarship argument, it’s old and not nearly as much money as some big-teams generate. So, OBJ compensated them. Good for him. He’s the only person in the right in this situation.

LSU investigating Odell Beckham over concerns about handing out money

LSU has launched an investigation into former Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. after he was seen handing players cash following their title win.

After LSU’s remarkable National Championship victory over Clemson on Monday night, former New York Giants wide receiver and LSU alum, Odell Beckham Jr., was spotted on the field handing out wads to cash to Tigers players during the celebration.

Almost immediately, images of Beckham handing hundred dollar bills to NCAA players sparked an outcry, which LSU associate athletic director Robert Munson attempted coral by claiming the bills were fake (not necessarily counterfeit).

“It was a joke,” LSU associate athletic director Robert Munson told reporters Tuesday. “The bills were fake bills.”

As it turns out however, neither LSU nor Munson are completely sure about the authenticity of the money and are now launching an investigation into Beckham and wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jontre Kirklin, who were seen accepting the money from OBJ.

Per USA TODAY:

Munson, however, added later Tuesday that LSU was investigating to see if all the bills were indeed fake and planned to interview both players.

Neither player has declared for the NFL draft and thus remain NCAA athletes. The NCAA prohibits collegiate players from being compensated or receiving impermissible benefits outside of Division I scholarship parameters.

Beckham had previously sent every LSU player a pair of Beats Studio 3 wireless headphones, but that had been cleared by the NCAA, which allows for gifts of up to $550 to be given to players competing in championship games by “the management of the event or from the participating member institution.”

Anything additional — particularly cash in hand — is a clear violation of NCAA rules and could lead to a world of trouble for both Beckham and LSU.

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OBJ, Jarvis Landry celebrate with national champions LSU

Who had more fun celebrating: the current players or LSU alumnus and Baton Rouge native Odell Beckham Jr.? And, what did Beckham have to do with the band playing ‘Neck,’ after the final touchdown?

Who had more fun celebrating: the current players or LSU alumnus and Baton Rouge native Odell Beckham Jr.? And, what did Beckham have to do with the band playing ‘Neck,’ after the final touchdown?

See it: Odell Beckham gives wads of cash to LSU players after championship win

Watch former New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. hand out wads of cash to LSU players on the field after their National Championship win.

The LSU Tigers capped off a perfect season on Monday night, defeating the Clemson Tigers, 42-25, in the National Championship Game.

After the game, the celebration was lit, as the young people would say. LSU alumni and non-alumni alike were in attendance, on the sideline and in the locker room cheering on the victory, and that included former New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham, now with the Cleveland Browns, is perhaps the most famous LSU player to come out of college in recent years and his love for the program knows no bounds. Unfortunately, that might lead OBJ into a little hot water.

While on the field immediately after the final whistle, cameras caught Beckham handing out wads of cash to several LSU players, including wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jontre Kirklin.

It’s entirely possible that Beckham’s variation of “making it rain” was just a publicity stunt for the cameras, but with emotions running so high at the time, it’s also possible he didn’t realize what he was doing and the potential consequences for it.

Although the NCAA is making strides in seeing to it that student-athletes earn some money for the use of their likeness, there’s still a strict policy against against handing out cash to players. Accordingly, LSU had better be prepared to field some questions over the above video.

As far as Beckham… Who knows what happens from here. Maybe this entire thing will be ignored due to the gravity of the moment or maybe it won’t. Time will tell.

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Do the Giants have a sudden surplus at wide receiver?

Once thought to be in a disastrous position, do the New York Giants now suddenly have a surplus at wide receiver?

When the New York Giants traded away star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last offseason, many wondered if Sterling Shepard was ready to step up and lead the team.

To help quell those fears, the Giants then signed veteran wide receiver Golden Tate to help fill the void left by Beckham’s departure, but he was almost instantly suspended four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

In addition to Tate’s suspension, the Giants also saw a slew of injuries to their receivers and tight ends — from Evan Engram to Sterling Shepard, and from Rhett Ellison to Tate.

In fact, it had gotten so bad at one point there were reports that Shepard had been contemplating retirement following a series of concussions.

But in the midst of the injuries and a disappointing season, the Giants may have struck gold with their fifth-round rookie Darius Slayton. Slayton had 48 receptions, including eight touchdowns and continued to impress all year long.

Assuming all of those players remain healthy in 2020, do the Giants actually have a surplus of receivers? Certainly, a player like Tate or Shepard would command some draft capital in a trade. However, as we saw this year, it is crucial to have depth — especially with wide receivers.

Rookie Daniel Jones never really had all of his weapons on the field for most of the season, so it’s hard to know just how much potential the Giants have on offense, but there’s no denying there’s a load of talent in the WR/TE rooms. Not to mention running back Saquon Barkley, who is an elite pass-catcher despite his misuse.

In hindsight, it’s amusing to look back at the panic following the OBJ trade. The Giants have quite a bit of depth at the position and pending health, could be in position to really excel with their group of pass catchers.

Can they put it all together in 2020? That remains to be seen, but they certainly appear to be in much better shape going into 2020 than many believed they were entering 2019.

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Dez Bryant goes to bat for Eli Manning: How can anyone hate him?

Long-time Eli Manning rival, Dez Brant, went to bat for the two-time Super Bowl MVP on New Year’s Eve.

With Eli Manning’s time with the New York Giants coming to a close and the potential for retirement on the horizon, the debate over his Hall of Fame edibility has hit a fever pitch.

Every time you turn around, someone new is throwing their hat into the ring and either making a case for or against Eli.

That trend continued on Tuesday night just moments before ringing in the new year when former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant threw some shade at the Manning haters.

Bryant’s comments came after a late-night debate with fans and other blue check-marks in which the topic of Manning vs. Baker Mayfield came up.

Eli’s former NFC East rival pondered aloud if reuniting Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. in Cleveland would be a smart move for the struggling franchise.

Whatever you think of Manning in Cleveland or even Bryant’s mere suggestion that it would work, it’s pretty cool to see a man squared off with Eli twice per season for such a long time showing him some legitimate love.

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New York Giants: 11 defining moments of the decade

As the 2010s come to a close, here’s a look back at the 11 defining moments of the decade for the New York Giants.

The 2010s were a decade of highs and lows for the New York Giants. Unfortunately there were much more lows than highs.

But we here at Giants Wire have compiled the top 10 memorable moments of the decade, some of them not in any particular order.

Andrew Mills/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Victor Cruz’ 99-yard TD vs Jets

On Christmas Eve 2011, the Giants came into the game with a 7-7 record and needed a spark to help jettison them past Gang Green and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Trailing 7-3 in the second quarter and facing a third-and-10 from their own one-yard line, Eli Manning hit Cruz underneath. Cruz then broke several tackles and raced 99 yards for the go-ahead score.

That play spring-boarded the Giants to a 29-14 victory. They carried that momentum the rest of the way, defeating Dallas the next week for the NFC East title and then ran the table all the way through Super Bowl XLVI.

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