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The Cleveland Browns formally introduced Star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Giants last month.
As reported by USA Today, Beckham spoke publicly for the first time about the deal during a press conference Monday.
“It was just a lot to process,” Beckham said. “You start off in New York in your career, and next thing you know, I’m here today. I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be here. The past is in the past. It was definitely a shock. I think I’ve come to grips with everything and processed everything, as it was a lot. But I see my guys here, and I’m excited.”
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Beckham was joined Monday by fellow Louisiana and longtime friend, receiver Jarvis Landry, as well as by quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive end Myles Garrett.
“I’m just really excited about the opportunity,” Beckham said. “I’m not going to lie. Looking at it, feeling it, I think this is the biggest blessing of my entire life.”
Beckham and Landry played together at LSU before being drafted in 2014. Now on the same squad again, Beckham is over the moon about joining forces with one of his besties.
“I feel like we spoke this into existence, almost,” Beckham said. “Him and I dreamed this. ‘I’m going to live right down the street from you. We’re going to be on the same team.’ It’s surreal.”
When it comes to his critics, Beckham noted that “Nothing that’s said about me is ever going to bother me because I know who I am, and I just stick to that. … My mentality was never me-first.”
The comment seems to have evolved since he addressed the haters and naysayers while playing with the New York Giants.
“I remember I used to say all the time, ‘Don’t take it personal…,’ but I still took things personal,” he previously said. “I really have gotten that out of my heart to not take anything personal. And with doing that, it’s left things that I used to worry about out of the equation.”
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Meanwhile, Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens, spoke about the heightened expectations facing his team of young, talented players; in that they have to set aside their ego and individual goals to focus on what’s best for the team.
“Right now, we’re just a bunch of good, individual players. Yeah, our roster looks great on paper. But at the end of the day, we better be a good team.”
He also noted that Beckham still needs to “tie up loose ends” in his transition to Cleveland.
“I think this moment is going to be more iconic than we all realize,” said Beckham. “That’s what we want the goal to be. To look back in 10 years and be like, ‘Man, I remember April 1, 2019. That was the start of something great.’ ”
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