Odell Beckman’s crusade against the Giants apparently doesn’t include taking aim at Eli Manning.
In response to Manning being benched for rookie quarterback Daniel Jones earlier this week, the Browns receiver told reporters, “That’s a brother of mine. It’s been nothing but love.
“But I don’t play for them anymore, so I don’t have anything to do with that situation, with that organization or anything that’s going on. But it’s nothing but love for [Eli].”
Those comments are a far cry from the bitterness Beckham has shown the Giants — mainly GM Dave Gettleman — since the team traded him to Cleveland in March, just a year into a five-year, $90 million contract.
And Beckham also hasn’t been shy about criticizing the 38-year-old Manning, whom he shared a field with for the first five seasons of his career.
There was his explosive ESPN interview last fall, for which he was later fined by the Giants for questioning Manning’s ability amid a dismal season, and then remarks made earlier this summer in which he indicated his current quarterback, Baker Mayfield, is better than Manning.
In two games with the Browns (1-1), including one at his former MetLife Stadium home against the Jets on Monday, the 26-year-old Beckham has 13 receptions for 232 yards, along with one touchdown.
The Giants are 0-2, and hoping Jones — the sixth overall pick in April’s draft — can save their season.