While so many are concerned that Beckham isn't participating in the voluntary program, including the minicamp this past week, head coach Freddie Kitchens refuses to waste a moment worrying about it.
“Under no circumstance am I going to say that I’m pissed off at Odell for not being here,” Kitchens said. “He’ll be ready to play and ultimately that’s the only thing I want, for him to be ready to play when we start kicking off in September and he will be, I promise you.”
Beckham has spent one day in the team’s facility – April 1 – since being acquired from the Giants officially on March 13. Over the past week Beckham has posted a multitude of video content on Instagram of him spending time in L.A.while most of his teammates are working in Berea.
“Of course, I would rather him be here than not here, but I understand why,” Kitchens said. “I talk to Odell every day. He knows what we’re doing offensively every day.
“Now it’s better for us to have him here, us being a new staff, but if we can’t have him ready to play when he shows up, they need to find a new coach. All right? They need to find a new position coach. He will be ready to play. Don’t worry about that.”
Kitchens referenced each of the last two defensive players of the year – Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald – not being affected by skipping or missing offseason programs or camps.
So while an argument could be made that with a first-year head coach, new coaching staff and team, Beckham should be spending as much time with them as possible to build camaraderie and chemistry, Kitchens isn’t the least bit worried.
“I’ll tell you this about Odell Beckham and Baker Mayfield, I think they have a pretty good relationship and they’ve formed pretty good camaraderie,” Kitchens said. “They’ve worked out for two summers in California and I don’t see their camaraderie being a problem. Again, Julio Jones and their quarterback has pretty good camaraderie.”
Kitchens also addressed recent media criticism over Beckham’s absence.
“I also understand that you guys are trying to define and draw lines in the sand between coaches and players and players and players and that ain’t gonna happen anymore,” Kitchens said. “And there’s no problem with Odell not being here. I’d rather him be here. He’s not here. It’s voluntary. That’s what the word voluntary means. He can decide to come or he can’t.”
While Beckham might be thousands of miles and two time zones away, he's clearly in tune with what is going on with his new team.
Friday night Beckham celebrated the selection of LSU cornerback Greedy Williams 46th overall in round two with a video of him yelling “Greedy!”
The trade for Beckham became complete Thursday and Friday night with the Giants’ selections of Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence with the 17th pick in round 1 and Old Dominion edge rusher Oshane Ximines with the 95th pick acquired from the Browns.