Outcasted New York Giants’ great Tiki Barber calls Odell Beckham Jr. a “me-first” player and that he might find himself without a team.
The Odell Beckham Jr. & Ben McAdoo story has taken off this week after McAdoo publicly called for his star receiver to control himself. Now, New York Giants all-time leading rusher Tiki Barber chimed in Friday, as the narrative continues to make rounds.
Barber, on his CBS radio show Tiki and Tierney, said the Giants need to rein Beckham in before things spiral:
“Ben McAdoo and Mike Sullivan, the offensive coordinator, they got to lock him in. They can’t allow him to just get up and say ‘I’m going to be who I am. I’m going to do what I want to do.’ No, you’re part of a team, buddy.”
– Tiki barber
His comments come a day after Beckham, responding to McAdoo, told the media he’d continue to be himself.
Barber, who himself left New York under less-than-amicable terms, went on to give OBJ a warning.
“…you’re part of a team. And if you don’t recognize that, then somewhere down the line, you will not be part of the team.”
Barber retired after the 2006 season and went on to criticize his the Giants at every opportunity. He tried to make an immediate splash in the world of media by separating himself from his former team.
Things didn’t pan out the way he assumed they would and it cost him his relationship with the organization and its loyal fanbase. The Giants went on to win Super Bowl XLII in their first year without him.
Right Message, Wrong Messenger:
It’s true the team needs to squash the public divide. Everyone, presumably, would agree with that- unless it was coming from Tiki Barber.
Tiki was a phenomenal player during his career, but not many have been receptive to him in recent times. If he were to tell Giants fans to grab an umbrella before leaving home today, they’d defiantly tough it out in the rain.
Ultimately, he isn’t wrong. These issue needs to be handled. But that resolution should be found in-house, away from Barber and everyone else not in the locker room.
