After weeks and weeks and months and months of buildup, the Odell Beckham Jr. free-agency tour got here and went final week. He visited with the Payments, Giants and Cowboys, and the thought was {that a} resolution would come by the center of final week.
However that is come and gone, too, and as sources clarify, all events are presently in a holding sample whereas Beckham is at dwelling contemplating his choices.
The groups concerned are transferring ahead with what they presently have, realizing that if Beckham got here on board, he would not assistance on the sphere till at the very least one other month.
Whereas there could possibly be a fourth go to, there is not one presently scheduled for Beckham.
Briefly, right here is the place all of it stands:
- No timeline for a choice from Beckham.
- No agency reply on what a contract would seem like, with financial particulars not mentioned intimately with any social gathering.
- All groups felt assured in Beckham’s rehab from a torn ACL, with the surgical procedure having gone nicely and the timeline being what was anticipated. However 10 months out from his second ACL tear, Beckham is simply not able to play.
- Beckham didn’t work out or run routes for groups, regardless of golf equipment clamoring for extra data. Whereas he has achieved some route operating, he hasn’t put pads on and hasn’t run his full route tree. That left groups with extra unknowns than knowns.
Beckham was a visitor on LeBron James’ Thursday Night time Soccer alternate feed of The Store this week, and he addressed his free company with a bluntness nobody was anticipating. He described wanting the secure surroundings of a soccer workforce, that common schedule as he works to get again.
“I’ve performed soccer for a very long time,” Beckham said. “I am not saying I could not step in and play (within the) common season, however I do not see the purpose. I actually do not. I might moderately play when that stress’s on.”
At this level, it is trying much less seemingly that he’ll have the chance.
A supply near Beckham stated the receiver got here away impressed with all of the franchises however left with so much to digest. Beckham initially got here into the method wanting a big-money, multi-year deal in a spot the place he may end his profession. However whereas he considers his choices now, he is weighing varied eventualities.
Is a multi-year deal the very best route? With the salary cap expected to increase, maybe a one-year contract is healthier? Or possibly the most suitable choice is to attend till free company in March — or actually, at any time when he needs to signal since he will likely be 100% wholesome by then. He’d as soon as once more be one of many prime free brokers.
Beckham has made practically $83 million on the sphere in his profession, and loads of extra hundreds of thousands off the sphere. He isn’t hurting for cash. Ready will not be essentially a foul choice, particularly as a result of it may open the door for extra potential suitors. However it could additionally imply no playoffs this season.
There are questions abound for groups, as nicely. With out watching him run routes and do a full exercise, they won’t know sufficient to make a full resolution. And the easiest way to get able to assist in the playoffs is to play throughout the common season, nevertheless it would not look like that’s within the playing cards for Beckham. Thus, the wait.
There are eventualities through which Beckham indicators with a workforce. One can be if he indicators someplace for little cash in 2022 (contemplating he will not play a lot or in any respect this season) however massive cash the following season. One other can be a low-money, one-year deal. However do these make sense for all events?
It seems extra ready stays because the Beckham Sweepstakes that has generated so many headlines continues.