Lil’ Wayne has taken center stage with the New York Giants, his music blasting at practice after Sunday’s bizarre Odell Beckham Jr. interview.
After a tumultuous week, the New York Giants appear to be going through a bit of a “Rebirth.”
Odell Beckham Jr.’s controversial interview with ESPN’s Josina Anderson was made all the more bizarre by the appearance of rapper Lil’ Wayne, who sat alongside Beckham when the receiver took indirect shots at the Giants, namely his quarterback, Eli Manning.
The interview aired during Sunday’s edition of Sunday NFL Countdown. In the ensuing game against the Carolina Panthers, Beckham would go on to score his first touchdown in about a calendar year.
He would also throw a touchdown, a 57-yard hookup with Saquon Barkley in what became a 33-31 Giants loss in Charlotte.
Asked if Manning was the reason the Giants stood at 1-3 entering Sunday’s game, Beckham merely replied, “I don’t know.”
“I feel like he’s not going to get out the pocket. He’s not … we know Eli’s not running it,” Beckham elaborated. “But is it a matter of time issue? Can he still throw it, yeah, but it’s been pretty safe and it’s been, you know, cool catching shallow (routes) and trying to take it to the house. But I’m, you know, I want to go over the top of somebody.”
With the Giants back in East Rutherford to prepare for a home showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday (8:20 p.m. ET, Fox/NFL Network/Amazon Prime), questions were immediately addressed about the Beckham comments. Manning only shrugged about the interview on Monday, remarking “I don’t watch Lil’ Wayne much,” according to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano.
Manning’s comment, simple as it as, prompted Lil’ Wayne to post a puzzling reply on his Instagram page.
(Comments may be NSFW.)
In a seven-part video posted on Tuesday, Lil’ Wayne rips and defends Manning at the same time, suggesting he listen to his new album, Tha Carter V, as game day motivation.
“You ain’t got to watch much of me. But you can listen, if you could,” he says. “You probably need to the way (you’ve) been playing. You probably need to bang some ‘Carter V’ before the game. Just a consideration.”
The rapper also takes aim at basketball writer Frank Isola of The Athletic, formerly of the New York Daily News. Isola has been a critic of Beckham and took a few shots at him during Sunday’s game.
When Beckham has a drop which Giants player is responsible for throwing a temper tantrum in the sideline?
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) October 7, 2018
Lil Wayne should be sitting next to Beckham when OBJ explains the screw up on the punt.
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) October 7, 2018
“I know you’re up there in New York and I know a little bit about New York,” Wayne continued. “I spent a little time on an island out there called Rikers Island. I know a little bit about New York, but I don’t know much about you, though. Fact is, you don’t know much about me, so with that said, keep my name out your mouth.”
As the Giants returned to practice on Tuesday, they got in on the fun in a musical way. To open Tuesday’s workout, the outdoor speakers at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center’s practice field blared three consecutive Lil Wayne songs. NJ Advance Media’s Andrew Mills captured video of Beckham dancing along.
Among those not dancing at Tuesday’s practice were a series of injured players, including receiver Russell Shepard (neck) and kicker Aldrick Rosas (right quad). Tight ends Evan Engram (knee) and Rhett Ellison (foot) were limited, as was linebacker Olivier Vernon.
