Giants give up on Odell Beckham Jr. charade

Call it a 20-snap salute.

The Giants have cut Odell Beckham Jr., according to the NFL scoop guys. The move comes after the veteran wide receiver’s much-ballyhooed return to the franchise progressed to its always-inevitable endgame — idly occupying space until the team could no longer afford writing off said space.

Beckham had his moments during the preseason, but was a non-factor through the first three weeks of the regular season. He barely saw the field in his abbreviated Big Blue victory lap, finishing with a grand total of one target and zero catches. Which is not all that surprising for an injury-prone, soon-to-be-34-year-old who was out of the league last year and failed to play in about 60% of the possible regular season games over the last five years.

But if there is one thing the Giants and their fans cannot get enough of, it is nostalgia. Especially during the malaise of the last 15 years. So bringing Beckham back was a chance to bask in the glory of a few pleasant chapters in the Big Blue Book of Bedtime Stories, remembering his younger brilliance and overlooking the complete chaos he caused on and off the field during his original stint in town. And a chance to dream about him finding some semblance of his former self.

Alas. Braxton Berrios is running out of practice squad elevations and J.J. McCarthy needs a roster spot. And maybe a jersey number.

This is likely the end of the road for Beckham. We would be surprised if he catches on anywhere else. He will finish with a memorable career, but one that fell well short of what people thought it would be. He managed to win a title with the Rams as a hired gun, but his legacy in Gotham will be one incredible catch, some breathtaking play, a slew of nonsense and, most importantly, no rings, no retired number and no Ring of Honor (although you never know on the latter given how institutionally infatuated the club seems to be with him).