Odell Beckham Jr. is a rock star of a football player. If that wasn’t obvious to the fans of his new team in Cleveland, the last few weeks should have done the trick.
A quick glance around the sports media landscape since his arrival in Cleveland shows just how much attention loves Beckham and he loves it right back. We’ve covered a litany of it, from his (awesome) new Rolls Royce to a celebrated trip to Monaco, a curious fashion choice at the ESPYs to his own self-imposed hiatus from social media feeds and the millions of followers. He even played a little football in California with his teammates after skipping out on the voluntary team sessions.
The latest issue of GQ magazine features Beckham on the cover. Inside is a meaty fluff piece that covers his eccentric fashion, love of bounce music, the trappings of fame, how moving to Cleveland from New York impacts his “brand”, rumors of his homosexuality, his signature hair (since cut), and some passing allusions to the fact he actually plays football from time to time.
The New York media remains obsessed with Beckham. Giants fans clog the comment sections and Twitter mentions anytime anything Beckham sprouts from Cleveland (or Paris or Monaco or Los Angeles).
Even GM John Dorsey acknowledged the circus. The man who orchestrated the trade that blessed the Browns with Beckham playfully asked for his autograph during the wideout’s youth camp on Tuesday.
Now it’s finally football time in Cleveland. Beckham will remain in the news, but now Browns fans will get to see him catching passes and running routes in his new brown and orange No. 13 jersey.
This is the reward for putting up with the antics and the traveling circus that seems to surround Beckham. It can be hard to remember he’s one of the most spectacular wide receivers in the NFL, capable of incredible catches and making defenders look like clowns as they try to tackle him in space.
It’s going to be great to put away the sideshows and catch the main attraction: Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver, Cleveland Browns.
