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Wait, what? The always ready to take money out of his pocket NFL has actually praised New York Giants’ wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr? Pick your jaw up off the floor because it is actually true.
Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president, sent a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell and members of the Giants’ organization praising Beckham’s efforts at the Pro Bowl.
"I would be remiss not to acknowledge how engaging and professional Odell Beckham Jr. was during the entire week of the Pro Bowl," Vincent wrote in the letter obtained by ESPN. "By far and away, he represented the New York Football Giants and the NFL with great poise, congeniality, and professionalism."
"Odell single-handedly took our engagement to a higher level," Vincent wrote to the Giants. "You should be proud to have him representing your club and your city at the Pro Bowl and I didn't want to go another day without writing to acknowledge his extraordinary efforts."
There have always been two sides to Beckham. There is the side that throws sideline tantrums, hangs out with celebrities and gets all the media attention. There is also the side that goes out of his way to interact with fans whenever he can. That side often goes unnoticed.
Beckham’s teammate, Marshall Newhouse, praised him during an appearance Wednesday on SB Nation Radio.
“He’s a great teammate. He’s a fiery guy. I don’t think you want to suppress somebody with that kind of passion,” Newhouse said. “Obviously there’s a time and place for it, but I see how he works. Work ethic is unmatched, it’s unquestioned. He fights for his teammates. I see him getting after it in the weight room. … He’s done nothing but show me that he’s a great teammate and a game-changing play-maker.”
Cris Carter will help support Beckham
Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter said this week that he will communicate regularly with Beckham as the Giants’ star tries to learn to handle his emotions.
"He regrets the things that happened. He's trying to learn from it, and he's going to make some adjustments. He's trying to learn how to be a pro. He's trying to talk to people," Carter, now a FOX analyst, said Tuesday at the network's Super Bowl LI media session.
"Him and I have a very good relationship, and he's dedicated himself to getting on a phone call with me once a week. I plan on seeing him when he comes to L.A., plan on spending some time there. He's really trying to make some adjustments, to get the best out of his talent."
Weekend Mailbag
If you have questions for this weekend’s mailbag, please e-mail Ed at bigblueview@gmail.com.