It didn’t take long for Odell Beckham Jr. to attract some negative attention with his new team, the Cleveland Browns. The diva wide receiver appeared for the first day of OTAs and then was gone … in a flash. He’s one of a number of talented wideouts, who brought with them great catches, incredible talent and an impossible attitude.
DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson is back where he started, in Philadelphia. Sometimes it is hard to imagine a team taking a second run with a diva wide receiver but the Eagles are doing just that. In 2010, he helped cap an incredible comeback victory over the Giants with a last-second punt return for a TD. In 2011, he created a stir with the team by refusing to report to training camp. He managed to arrive the day before he would have lost a year of service. He manages to attract attention whether in the secondary, sidelines or off the field. Jackson is 32 now. That doesn’t mean working with him will be any easier for Philly’s coaching staff.
Plaxico Burress
Plaxico Burress is another diva wide receiver who found his way out of Pittsburgh, who suspended him at one point The New York Giants took the former Michigan State star on and he delivered some famous catches and infamous moments. Of course, being a diva, he wasn’t happy with his contract. That goes with the position and title. He also went AWOL in 2008 and, of course, had the misfortune of shooting himself on a night out in Manhattan. The complete package.
Dez Bryant
Dez Bryant wore his emotions everywhere. If he was unhappy during a Dallas Cowboys game, everyone knew it. He’d mouth off, act out and find negative attention in the worst ways. One could say it is because he cared so much about winning. One could also say it was because he wanted the Dallas offense to be about him. Quite the showman.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. talked and acted his way out of the New York Giants. That took a lot of doing as he had signed a massive contract before last season. The hope was that by pairing him with former LSU teammate Jarvis Landry in Cleveland he would settle in — settle down? That doesn’t seem to be happening as he already is absent from OTAs after attending for one day. Not the best way to ingratiate and integrate oneself into a new organization and teammates.
Chad Johnson (Ochocinco)
Chad Johnson was a six-time Pro Bowler and an all-time diva. He wan hard to please and often asked to be traded from the Bengals. At times he has wanted to try coaching. Better to be on the sidelines than to become a life coach for any of today’s wideouts.
Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin carried the personality and attitude of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty. He was there for the big play and the larger than life personality. He worked hard to become a phenomenal wideout and with his ability grew a charisma and, in many ways, a charm few can match.
Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown is the epitome of this generation of diva. He can do it all and wants the ball … all the time, any way he can get it. He runs his mouth at the speed he drives his cars. He talked his way out of Pittsburgh and now it is up to Jon Gruden to try and keep him happy.
Keyshawn Johnson
A princely diva was Keyshawn Johnson in his playing days. Carried himself with incredible attitude and confidence. That spills over to cockiness and arrogance. A Super Bowl champ and No. 1 pick by the New York Jets out of USC. His personality is beyond charming and bigger than life.
Terrell Owens
A diva to this day. Terrell Owens walks to the beat of his own drummer and no one does it differently. He found ways to get on the nerves of opponents, teammate, coaches and front offices. One of the greats who knew how to grate with the best of them.
Randy Moss
When you can run patterns and catch passes the way Randy Moss did, a lot of antics and behavior is forgotten. One of the most talented wideouts to play in the NFL and his overall play in the long run obscured a lot of the foolishness.
