Odell Beckham’s now famous, impossible one handed catch against the Cowboys, immortalized in Vine loop form, instantly vaulted him into the NFL superstar stratosphere. In a league where wide receivers are rarely productive out of college, Beckham has produced 90 catch, 1,300 yard seasons in each of his first two years in the NFL.
In a league where NFL players are rarely marketable because they they wear helmets and aren’t easily identifiable, Beckham’s instantly recognizable blonde hair and breathtaking highlights have made him a commercial crossover success. Inside the NFL, it’s made him a target.
Beckham’s biggest on-field flaw has nothing to do with running routes or catching passes, it’s controlling his emotions. Josh Norman, then of the Panthers, laid the blueprint last year when he engaged Beckham in UFC-style throwdown. The word is clearly out around the league. If you keep poking him with a stick, he’ll eventually react. And when things aren’t going his way, he isn’t the same player.
In this year’s Week 3 loss to the Redskins, a video of his sideline meltdown, complete with attacking a kicking net, went viral.
In last night’s 24 – 10 loss to the surging Vikings, Beckham took the bait again, this time it was Minnesota cornerback Xavier Rhodes eagerly playing the role of Norman. Beckham was frustrated early, and finished the game with a career low 23 yards on just 3 catches. Mission accomplished for the Vikings.
streethistory: Rhodes and Beckham lol ESPN Monday Night Football: Giants at Vikings https://t.co/blLoU3YZen pic.twitter.com/moBUslWSZT
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) October 4, 2016
Did the officials miss some calls on Beckham last night? Sure. But, the book on him is out. Get into his head, he’ll let you in. Until he proves otherwise, don’t expect opposing defenses to change their approach. Why would they?
The NFL is a bottom line league, and the bottom line with Odell Beckham right now is that his emotions are by far his biggest liability.