Justin Pugh: What It Is Like To Live In Odell Beckham Jr.’s World

The New York Giants were pretty sure they were going to get a good player when they drafted Odell Beckham Jr. 12th overall in the 2014 draft. The receiver out of LSU was undersized but had an elite blend of speed, agility, and explosiveness and combined it with pro-ready route running.

It’s a combination to give a team confidence that their pick would pan out.

What nobody could predict was Beckham’s immediate impact on his offense. One could almost see the shockwaves he created go through the Atlanta Falcons’ defense from the first snap he took as a pro. From there he went from a promising rookie to a phenomenon, quickly becoming the face of the franchise.

Going into his fourth year, Beckham is arguably the face of the entire NFL.

Along the way he has been criticized for his actions, generally off the field. This week Giants’ offensive guard Justin Pugh defended his superstar teammate and gave fans a small glimpse into Beckham’s world on the Simms and Lefkoe Podcast.

“I mean, there’s not many guys, in any sport, besides basketball — there’s maybe three or four guys who are on his level. He goes anywhere it’s a mob. Seeing him out in public, it’s a whole [different] level.”

“It’s like this kid’s life is on a whole [different] level. So everyone always tries to tear him down, and I’m always like ‘imagine you are 24, 25 years old, had the world by the balls, everybody wants a piece of you, you have the hair so everbody recognizes you everywhere you go. It’s tough. I think he’s had his growing pains, but no one wants to win more than him, you can see it in how he plays.”

As for Beckham himself?

He said something that should make defensive backs everywhere very nervous.