Mere days after saying no one on the team was untouchable, New York Giants owner John Mara firmly declared that Odell Beckham Jr. was not on the trading block on Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier this week, New York Giants owner John Mara remarked that “no one is untouchable” when asked about potentially dealing polarizing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Now, it appears, at least for the time being, Beckham isn’t going anywhere.
Speaking at the NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Mara acknowledged that while calls have been placed about the superstar’s status, the Giants aren’t ready to part ways.
“He’s not on the block,” Mara firmly said, per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. “Is that going to stop clubs from possibly calling us? No. But he’s not on the block. We’re not shopping him around.”
Asked further about the case, Mara reiterated that no one on the Giants is truly untouchable, though he did offer one exception during his Tuesday statement.
“If you’re asking me for a 100% guarantee, nobody has that,” Mara stated, as reported by Newsday’s Tom Rock. “Except maybe Nate Solder, because we couldn’t afford the appreciation.”
Rock also reported that while Mara wishes to keep Beckham in New York blue, the Giants’ principal owner added that “It’s a conversation we would have to have if somebody overwhelms us (with an offer), yes.” Mara has confirmed that that has not happened just yet.
Beckham’s future, thrust into question thanks to a rumored holdout for a long-term contract, has been a topic all week with Giants brass gathered in Florida. While head coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman were somewhat ambiguous when it came to Beckham, co-owner Steve Tisch likewise debunked trade rumors yesterday. NJ Advance Media’s Mike Lombardo stated that Tisch called rumors of Beckham’s supposed holdout “hypothetical”, and even implied that talks of a new deal were in their “earliest, most premature stages”.
Beckham, 25, is entering his fifth season with the Giants, who exercised the fifth-year option on his initial contract when they drafted him in 2014. Though some see a massive new deal as imminent for Beckham, who has established himself as one of the league’s top receivers, several off-field incidents this offseason has put his New York future in jeopardy.
Earlier this month, a short, controversial Instagram video featured Beckham in bed with French model Laura Cuenca, with pizza, a brown cigarette, and a white powder substance. Shortly after, Beckham was hit with a $15 million lawsuit by Hollywood event organizer Ishmael Temple, who claimed to be severely beaten during an incident at the receiver’s home earlier this year. Beckham’s team called the latter allegations “frivolous”.
