N.Y. Giants: The Post Odell Beckham Jr. Era Begins

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

FIRST WORD

New York Football Giants: Rings, Receivers, and Rebuilds.

Here is a small list of reasons why I believe the Giants did right by trading Odell Beckham Jr., and why they'll survive without him:

• Bobby Johnson; Lionel Manuel; Phil McConkey; Stephen Baker; Stacy Robinson; Mark Ingram; Plaxico Burress; Amani Toomer; David Tyre; Victor Cruz; Hakeem Nicks; et al.  

Odell is unquestionably the best talent at the position the Giants ever had.  In fact some of the aforementioned names shouldn't even be mentioned in the same conversation where it concerns the freakish ability Beckham brings to the gridiron.  However I do not believe Super Bowl contenders are predicated on wide receivers.  They're low on my list after defensive play makers, offensive linemen, and quarterbacks.  I'll take a Pro Bowl caliber center or a two-way tight end any day; receivers not so much.  Give me good pass protection; give me a productive running game; and I'll show you a highlight stream packed with game breaking pass receptions made by ordinarily good receivers.

There's also the matter of Odell's contract.  At $90 million dollars the Browns can have him.  I can think of numerous other ways to ruin the salary cap, but spending that much money based on Odell's previous availability alone is not one of them.  However by first signing Beckham Dave Gettleman just may have provided another general manager a measure of cost certainty versus having to wait out the process and acquiring him as a free agent.  Just a theory, and perhaps a bad one.  But truth is Cleveland was perfectly positioned to acquire him.

Otherwise I find it virtually impossible taking NFL general managers at their word.  Rather I expect half truths and double speak.  Expecting them to reveal their hand is being naive.  It's just the nature of the business.  Therefore, I pay little or no attention to what they say, and focus instead on what they actually do.  Be it a shrewd move on Gettleman's part or not, this transaction still must be viewed within the context of team building and roster maneuvering.  In two short seasons Gettleman has purged many a popular name from the Giants ranks, not just Odell.  The team Beckham once knew and played for has all but been disassembled.  Therefore it was hard envisioning him outlasting a third head coach, much less Pat Shurmur.  And that's why I do not get caught up in Dave Gettleman's widely perceived propaganda.

If defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, drafted with the #1 pick they received from Cleveland, develops into a legitimate player, and safety Jabrill Peppers proves his worth, all the better.

I purposefully steered clear from making any mention of Eli Manning.  There's a reason for it, of which I will get into very shortly ...

NEXT: The Hog Mollies Are Coming!