Tom Brady on Odell Beckham’s Miami trip: No big deal

New England Patriots’ QB Tom Brady became the latest to weigh in on Odell Beckham Jr.’s playoff week trip to Miami, and provided maybe the most realistic take yet.

Unless you’ve managed to avoid the pull of sports radio and social media, you’re familiar with the story. OBJ’s Miami getaway sparked faux controversy, which was intensified by his sub-standard performance in the New York Giants’ 38-13 playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.

"It's a tricky situation," Brady said. "Players are off. Everyone decides what they want to do in their off time. When I was young, I did a lot of things when I look back I probably wish I wouldn't have done -- flying across country and things like that. It just wasn't publicized."

Brady took a more measured approach than most past or present NFL players. He acknowledged an increasingly overlooked grey area: rich, young athletes will opt to fly cross-country rather than study game-film sometimes. Especially on off days, as Brady himself can attest to.

"I was from California so when I had off time that's where I went. ... You're younger, you don't have all the experience that you have. I'm at a point where doing this as long as I have, I cherish the opportunity that I have, and I'm putting everything into it.”

While Brady does make it clear it’s a trip he wouldn’t be taking these days, his tone was more candid than callous.

Beckham and Brady have spoken highly of one another in the past, notably after exchanging jerseys following the Giants 17-9 preseason win over the Patriots back in September.

“Any time you get a chance to talk to somebody like that, he’s made the playoffs for a very long time,’’ Beckham said. “Just kind of messing with him. I asked him if my jersey got lost in the mail; or what was going on with it. He was like, I got you after the game. So it’s pretty cool.’’

“He’s a great young player and I love watching him,’’ said Brady about Beckham.