Eli Manning “not tired of” the Odell Beckham sideshow

Call it back-tracking. A clarification. A different interpretation. Supporting his teammate. Call it whatever you want, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning Tuesday sounded a different tune regarding Odell Beckham Jr. than he had during a Monday interview on WFAN when he had said you “can get real sick of” Beckham’s antics if he isn’t producing.

“I’m not tired of it. I thought you might be tired of it. That was my comment. Talking about you. I’m fine with it,” Manning said. “He’s doing a lot of good things and playing the game the right way. He just has to make sure the celebrations and what’s going on aren’t hurting the team in any way.”

Manning said he isn’t trying to send any sort of message to the wide receiver by speaking publicly about him.

— Eli Manning

“I get asked about him a lot so I have to comment. Odell and I have a great relationship. We talk about a lot of things. We’re on the same page,” Manning said. “He knows that I’m always looking out for him and understands that you can say things that can get taken one way. Odell and I are on the same page. I get asked multiple questions about him every week.

“I want him to play well and make plays. I want him to have celebrations and dance. I’m fine with that. I want the team to go out there and win games. It’s fun. That was a fun locker room after the game. Exciting locker room. It should be all positive stuff. For him to go out there and have his best game, maybe of his career, 200 yards in receptions and then afterwards, to be kind of a bad spin on things. You don’t want that. He should be happy about that and celebrating. Not have to deal with the side drama of it.”

While saying Beckham “probably” has to expect continued scrutiny of his every move, the veteran quarterback said he is fine with Beckham’s sideline silliness with the kicking net.

“The net stuff doesn’t bother me. You can do whatever you want in that sense. If it’s not getting penalized, not looking bad for the organization or the team. I think the net has played its part. It’s done its deal. We can move on from the net,” Manning said. “I’m more worried about taking the helmet off, getting the penalties, those types of things. We have to make sure those are the things you have to avoid because you don’t want to hurt the team in any way.”