Pat Shurmur
AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur responds to Odell Beckham Jr. saying he was the reason for him getting traded to Cleveland.

Earlier this week, Odell Beckham Jr. was featured in a GQ article by writer Mark Anthony Green. The former New York Giants receiver ultimately threw shade at Big Blue head coach Pat Shurmur, saying he was the reason he was traded in March to the Cleveland Browns.

“But then to be called like that and then be texted by your coach and be like, ‘Oh, yeah, I heard the news.’ Yeah, you heard the news? It happened because of you,” Beckham said. “The reason I’m gone is because of you. It was just tough because of the way I initially felt. On the other side of it, I was excited about a new start because I had been—honestly, I had been praying to God the season before this season for a change.”

On Wednesday, Shurmur responded to this comment when speaking to the media.

“I really don’t have any reaction,” Shurmur said. “I know when the trade was made, we felt like we went through it in a professional way. He was out of the country at the time when it happened. We made efforts to get in touch with him. I know Dave [Gettleman] actually did speak to him and I made efforts to get in touch with him, both through phone and text but he was out of the country.

“But, listen, I’ve said it all along, we’re hopeful that he can go to Cleveland and help them win football games and play good football. That’s really the gist of it.”

The Giants begin training camp this week, with veterans reporting to the Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday. Rookies reported on Monday.

The Giants shipped the Pro Bowl receiver to Cleveland for a first-round pick (No. 17), a third-round pick (No. 95) and safety Jabrill Peppers.

Big Blue is actively trying to replace the duties of Beckham. They signed Sterling Shepard to a four-year, $41 million extension this offseason and inked a deal worth $37.5 million through four years with Golden Tate.

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Ryan Honey is a staff writer and host of the Wide Right Podcast.