The Dallas Cowboys remain zeroed in on Odell Beckham Jr.
For weeks now, Dallas has been closely linked to the star wideout, who chose to remain a free agent as he rehabbed his torn ACL. Now, he’s beginning to visit with contenders as he nears a return to game action.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys have not hidden from their desire to bring Beckham to Dallas. Jones said Thursday that he had the opportunity to speak to Beckham, and he shared Tuesday in his weekly appearance on “Shan and RJ” how the receiver came across.
"Genuine, very genuine," Jones said. "Very competitive, feels confident, feels good about himself. I think he breeds confidence, but yet very, very just compatible. We think he’d fit in really good with us."
Shortly after his meeting with Jones, Beckham on Sunday was kicked off a plane for what the airline said was a failure to cooperate with the flight crew. Beckham was said to be going “in and out of consciousness,” but the wideout’s lawyer said the whole ordeal was the product of an “overzealous” flight attendant.
Whatever the case, the Cowboys do not appear put off by it.
“No, it did not (impact our thoughts on Beckham),” Jones said. “His overall team compatibility – his judgement, his behavior – is not an issue with him. It is with many, but not with him.”
Cowboys legend Michael Irvin said last month on 105.3 The Fan that Beckham would love to play for the Cowboys. However, Irvin noted on the station last week that a Beckham signing would likely be more with an eye on 2023 than 2022.
Asked about that, Jones didn’t dismiss the importance of this year.
“Well, we have to have this year. We have to have this year," Jones said. "It’s very important. The things we do are to have him impact this year, so this year has to be a big part of it. This year, of course, we have six regular season games and the playoffs, we’ve got in my mind almost of the whole show ahead of us. We’ve got to have a situation where he can really contribute now.”
There likely will be a bidding war for Beckham, not only because of the talent he boasts but also because it’s rare for a player of his caliber to be available this late in the season.
Beckham is set to visit with the Giants and Bills in addition to the Cowboys, and there potentially could be other teams. The Giants and Bills both could make strong cases for themselves as the best spot for Beckham, but Jones isn’t worrying about the other visits.
“Not at all. As a matter of fact, if you look at what proceeds us before you get here – so to speak, physically, coming to visit. I like that," Jones said. "As to other teams, we don’t have anything to take a step back on there.
"And of course, I know what this area is, I know what the Dallas area is, I know what football means to this area. I do know that we’re the most visible team, so from that standpoint there’s a lot of interest in it. Everybody likes to be part of something that is substantive, and that’s the Cowboys."
Jones said for now the plan remains to meet “as soon as Monday,” but left the door open for “intermittent conversations” between now and then.
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