Odell Beckham, Jr. still warrants primetime viewing for Cleveland

“Would I rather feared or loved? Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.” – Michael Scott (also Odell Beckham Jr. Not really. But if the cleat fits…)

Through two seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Odell Beckham Jr. has played more like the Assistant to the Regional Manager than the Manager. Entering his third season in brown and orange, Beckham Jr. has become an increasingly undervalued asset on a talent-laden Browns offense. Like The Office’s Michael Scott, as uncomfortable as he makes you feel (think Joker-cleats, Richard Mille watch, visor-gate, a thirst for social media, etc.), you still love watching OBJ.

When Beckham arrived in Cleveland prior to the 2019 campaign, he came with all the hype of an Office season finale. To this point, Injuries, inconsistent play, and an inability to mesh with Baker Mayfield have made OBJ’s Cleveland career anything but must-see tv.

But it hasn’t been all bad. In 2019, Beckham tallied over 1,000 receiving yards in a Freddie Kitchens offense that was as smooth as a post-divorce first date. Before tearing his ACL last fall, Beckham Jr. started all seven games for the Browns and scored four total touchdowns. He was a legit threat from anywhere on the field.

The best example of this came in week four vs. Dallas when OBJ carried the Browns to a win by way of two receiving touchdowns and a game-clinching 50-yard touchdown scamper. Without question, Beckham Jr. was the best player on the field that Sunday.

Critics and skeptics alike point to OBJ’s absence from the field (because of injury) as the reason the Browns offense began to click in the second half of the 2020 season. In actuality, the Browns’ week nine bye was the biggest factor in the offense’s ability to go from inconsistent to explosive.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski, Baker Mayfield, and a host of other Browns mentioned that the off week gave the coaching staff, and the offensive players a chance to correct their previously made mistakes and to focus on their strengths.

Fast-forward to Cleveland’s Divisional playoff loss to Kansas City and it’s fair to question if the end result would’ve been different had the Browns been able to trot a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. onto the field. The Browns lacked speed and the Chiefs knew it. Without OBJ and playing from behind, the offense never had a chance. A healthy OBJ, who was averaging 14 yards per reception (on par with his career average) is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball.

Maybe it’s the “What have you done for me lately” era we’re living in. But for whatever reason, many Cleveland fans talk about OBJ as if he’s on the same skill level as past Browns receiving “greats” like Carlton Mitchell, Jordan Norwood, and Chansi Stuckey. Take a scroll through twitter and fans have the former three-time Pro Bowler traded to just about every team in the league for what amounts to an extra kicking net and a conditional sixth-round draft pick.

Injuries remain a concern, but the talent can’t be questioned. Beckham won’t turn 29 until November. He remains an elite receiver. His average of 83.3 receiving yards per game ranks fifth all-time. Expected to be fully healthy for the start of the season, year three of OBJ in Cleveland should be bigger and better than anything we’ve seen before.

That’s what she said.