It was the signature play of his career, a moment that launched Odell Beckham Jr. into the national spotlight and almost instantly turned a rookie into a household name.
Beckham's spectacular one-handed catch on a Sunday night against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium two years ago was one of the most incredible plays in NFL history. But when Beckham was asked this past week whether he had any recollection of that game, he said: "Not that I can remember, not that I can think of. I think last time we played them on Sunday night, we lost. That's still what I remember."
Of course Beckham remembers the catch. There hadn't been one quite like it before, and there hasn't been another since. His 43-yard touchdown connection with Eli Manning was magical, as Beckham reached his right arm back and got three fingers on the tip of the ball, then brought it back to his chest as he was falling into the end zone. There may never be as athletic a play, and it will be remembered forever as one of the sport's greatest moments.
But Beckham was unwilling to draw much attention to the play as the Giants prepared to host Dallas on Sunday night. The Cowboys had a chance to clinch the NFC East title. A win by the Giants would keep alive their slim hopes of winning the division and provide a major boost for at least a wild card.
"This is a playoff game for us, in my mind," Beckham said. "So are the rest of them. You have to win eight games. That's how I look at it. You have to win eight games straight."
Beckham was suggesting that for the Giants to win Super Bowl LI, they would have to go 4-0 for the rest of the regular season and 4-0 in postseason (assuming they are a wild card).
The Giants will need their best playmaker on offense to be at his best down the stretch. But as often is the case with Beckham, his temperamental personality has gotten in the way. Whether it's getting down on himself for not making enough plays, or sparring with cornerbacks over tight coverage or physical play, or letting the officials get to him if they don't call enough penalties his way, there's way too much distraction in his game.
For all the celebrity he earned from that wondrous catch on Nov. 23, 2014, and for all his terrific performances, there is still way too much controversy for his own good. He may have had a point about not getting enough calls in last week's loss to the Steelers, when he was called once for offensive interference and frustrated by what he felt was frequent interference by Pittsburgh defenders.
But his postgame rant about the officiating, during which he suggested Terry McAulay's crew shouldn't work any more Giants games because of controversial calls in the past, went too far. Then he couldn't leave it alone, saying of the officiating last week: "Everybody could see it. Stevie Wonder can see it. I shouldn't have even brought it up. It's always a lose-lose situation."
That it is.
Beckham's on-field rants got so out of hand that he was fined $12,154 for verbal abuse and excessive profanity toward a game official after the game. The fine was unrelated to his postgame complaints to the media.
It's one more reminder of how far removed Beckham has put himself from that magnificent moment against the Cowboys. With all that ability to change a game in the blink of an eye, Beckham has strayed too far from what makes him great.
He has let too much nonsense take away from his game, and he needs to concentrate more on finding ways to help his team with his performance, not detract from it with his petulance.
