EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- With the thrilling touchdowns and 200-plus yards receiving come the elongated celebrations and proposals to kicking nets. This is the complete package of New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham had 222 yards receiving and two touchdowns in Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens. He also received a penalty for taking his helmet off during the celebration on the game-winning touchdown and had a marriage proposal with the kicking net. The fallout from the game involved as much talk about Beckham’s celebrations as his on-field performance.
Asked about what he would tell his star receiver, quarterback Eli Manning reiterated making the focus on the game.
“Just play football,” Manning said. “Keep making plays and do your thing.”
Manning made a comment during an interview Monday on WFAN that when the Giants aren’t winning “you can get real sick” of the antics. He insisted Tuesday that wasn’t criticism of Beckham.
Manning is just fine with the celebrations and behavior, aside from anything that draws a penalty.
“I’m not tired of it. Thought y’all might get tired of it. That was my comment,” he said. “It’s up to you, and maybe thought it was me. But I’m talking about you. I’m fine with it.”
This isn’t the first time in recent weeks that Manning’s comments were viewed as criticism. He claims to not be trying to talk about Beckham. It just always happens to be the topic of conversation, and there is no bad blood between wide receiver and quarterback.
“I’m not trying to make comments about him. I get asked about him a lot, so I have to comment about it,” Manning said. “I’m not trying. Odell and I have a great relationship. We talk about a lot of things. On the same page, he knows I’m always looking out for him, and he understands you can say things and it kind of can be taken one way.
“So Odell and I are on the same page. I get asked multiple questions about him every week.”
This is the Giants’ reality when the polarizing Beckham performs side acts with the kicking net in consecutive games and three times in four games. The camera is always on the Giants’ star receiver, because of his play and his actions.
It’s not likely to stop anytime soon with one of the NFL’s biggest stars. If he has sideshows as part of his celebrations, it’s going to attract attention.
“Yeah, probably so,” Manning said. “The net stuff doesn’t bother me. You can do whatever you want in that sense. If he’s not getting penalized, if it’s not looking bad for the organization for the team, I think the net had kind of played its part. We can move on from the net, personally. I’m more worried about taking the helmet off, taking the penalties. Make sure that those are the things he needs to avoid, because you don’t want to hurt the team in any way.”
Beckham did collect a 15-yard penalty for his celebration after his 66-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It almost hurt the Giants. Baltimore drove down the field and reached the 24-yard line before running out of time.
Manning knows there is a fine line Beckham is walking.
“I want him to play well. I want him to make plays. I want him to have celebrations and dances, and I’m fine with that,” Manning said. “I want the team to go out there and win games. It was a fun locker room after the game, exciting locker room. It should be all positive stuff.
“For him to go out there and have his best game, maybe of his career, 200 yards in receptions, and then afterwards there has to be kind of a bad spin on things. So you don’t want that. He should be celebrating and be happy about it and not have to deal with the side drama of it.”
If Beckham takes Manning's advice and just plays football, maybe that will be possible.