Odell Beckham Jr. can only watch on Sunday as his Cleveland Browns play against his old team, the New York Giants. What was supposed to be a triumphant return to New York for the Browns’ wideout will have to wait.
Or he can live vicariously through his teammates. Quarterback Baker Mayfield seems fine with bearing that weight.
“This one would mean a ton to (Beckham),” Mayfield told reporters this week. “Not necessarily in a revenge way, but whenever you play a team that you are familiar with — I had the same thing in college going back and playing Texas Tech — it means a lot to you. We are going to play for him because he is one of our guys so we need to do that.”
Beckham spent his first five seasons with the Giants and became a superstar in the bright lights of New York. He’s had two uneven, injury-laden seasons with the Browns since the blockbuster trade, and he’s on injured reserve now after tearing his ACL in Week 7.
It appears to be a much bigger deal for New York media that Beckham isn’t playing than it is for the 9-4 Browns themselves. But Mayfield spoke for many teammates who want to help their injured mate enjoy the return trip to New York.
