UPDATED, 12/9 at 2:47 p.m. ET: Sources close to Odell Beckham Jr. confirmed to Yahoo Sports that the wide receiver did talk to other players and teams about leaving Cleveland.
According to the insiders, Beckham made comments similar to the ones Glazer alleges "at least" once during a game in October. The source didn't specify which team/player Beckham was talking to, but the Browns' October schedule did include contests against the Patriots and 49ers.
Prior to going to Cleveland, it was rumored that there was mutual interest between Beckham and New England, and his respect for Tom Brady is well documented. Another player that Beckham is close with is 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He reportedly holds Garoppolo and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in "high esteem." As a result, he's developed a relationship with the quarterback.
"He talks to Jimmy on and off the field," the source says. "They have a friendship that is more than just saying hello before or after [a game]. There’s a lot of mutual respect there as football players and people — which is important [to Beckham]."
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Cleveland's Odell Beckham Jr. experiment might be coming to an end.
Fox Sports' Jay Glazer said on Sunday that players and coaches around the league "are not surprised" that Odell wants to be traded from the Browns. He claims that Beckham been lobbying for other clubs to make a deal with the Browns throughout the season.
"Odell Beckham has told other players and coaches before games, during games, 'Hey, come get me,'" Glazer said. "I don't see that relationship ending well for them after this year."
Beckham sparked questions about his time the Browns when he told the media earlier this week that he's not certain what the future has in store for him.
"No one knows what the future holds tomorrow," Beckham said. "I couldn’t tell you. My locker is right next to one of the people that mean the most to me in the world. I think about coming to work and seeing him every single day and how special this could be, so I couldn’t sit here and tell you whether I’m going to be here, want to be here, don’t want to be here. This is exactly where I’m at right now, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else."
Coming into the season, the addition of Odell to Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry boosted the Browns' potential. But, they have yet to live up to the hype, sitting squarely out of the playoff picture with a record of 5-7. This as well as his vague response led people to believe that Beckham's not content with his situation in Cleveland. The wide receiver refuted these reports via a tweet that states: "I NEVER said I was not happy in Cleveland, just like everyone else I’m hopeful for better results. Period. Next story plzz."
While there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding his future with the team, Odell is giving the Browns all he has while he's on the roster despite being injured.
Sources tell the NFL's Ian Rapoport that OBJ is playing through a sports hernia. This is a painful and serious injury that will require the wide receiver to have surgery during the offseason. Yet, he's battling through the pain as he hasn't missed a game this season. Initially, the Browns were hesitant to disclose the nature of his injury, disguising the hernia as a hip or groin ailment. But, it has plagued him all season.
"[I've] been banged up all year since whatever happened in camp," Beckham told the media this week. "Playing through whatever it is, just trying to make it through to Sunday. Any time Sunday comes around, I'm going to give the team everything I have."
The injury could further explain why things aren't working out in Cleveland. Those close to the situation claim that the hernia has limited Beckham's practice time. As a result, the wide receiver and Mayfield have not been able to get in tune with each other. This has led to miscommunication errors and a lack of timing, hindering their big-play potential.
OBJ was asked about his injury and his status with the team after the game, but decined to comment.
Baker Mayfield said OBJ’s injury “wasn’t handled right“ by the Browns.
