Rookie sensation and New York Giants wide receiver O’Dell Beckham Jr. is again dealing with the dreaded hamstring injury, and it looks like it seems to be getting to him in more ways than one.
Beckham Jr. missed the first four games of the season due to the same injury, but posted absurd statistics in 12 games with 91 receptions for 1,305 receiving yards and a team high 12 touchdowns.
However, his recent injury has had Giants teammates teasing him during OTAs.
Beckham Jr. spoke with ESPN on the matter.
“For me, this is what I love doing, and this is what I feel like my purpose was to do,” Beckham told ESPN this week. “So it takes a lot of strength for me to be able to come here every day and not practice, have to hear the little remarks, the little jokes, this and that.
“And it’s not just about a hamstring. It’s so many other things that people talk about. So it’s hard to come here and try and focus on ‘What play is up right now?’ instead of thinking about how bad you want to be out there.”
Now while Beckham is taking the injury to heart, it seems like everyone is joining in on the roast.
“Everybody,” he said. “Because of the hamstring last year and then the fame, it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re too big-time now,’ all that. So I mean, I just hear it and you want to blow it off, but after a while it gets old, and it kind of bothers you.”
Giants Head Coach spoke with the New York Post on Beckham Jr. frustration with the joking of his injury.
“[I want him to react to it] just like he did last year,” Coughlin said, via the New York Post. “Worry about things you can control and not about those you can’t. There was obviously some [verbal back-and-forth] in there. There may have been somebody serious, but most of it would have been well-intended shots just over the bow.
“His personality hasn’t let up any because of it,” Coughlin added. “I can guarantee you that.”
ODB had a breakout year that won him the cover of this year’s Madden 16′, which is one for cursing the players that grace the cover.
One thing is for certain, quarterback Eli Manning can ill-afford to be without his favorite target if they want to contend in the NFC East.