Odell Beckham reacts to John’s Mara’s “less talking, more playing” comment

Odell Beckham Jr. was, of course, asked on Friday for his reaction to New York Giants co-owner John Mara saying this week that he wanted “a little more playing and a little less talking” from Beckham.

“I respect and value his opinion, obviously, so that’s what we’re gonna do,” Beckham said. “Focus on Atlanta right now.”

Beckham said he and Mara have “talked but we haven’t talked.”

“We need to start winning games,” Beckham said. “I want to win, to, just as bad as everybody else. I just want to win.”

Beckham said he “laughed” when he heard the idea that players in the locker room are “frustrated” with Eli Manning.

“I don’t think that’s the case. I think they’re frustrated that we’re 1-5. We’re losing. Everybody want to win, that’s really it. I don’t think that ever was really the case.”

Asked directly for thoughts on Manning, Beckham said:

“I think we’re 1-5. We need to start winning games. Everybody needs to pick it up. I need to play better. I can’t say that I’ve had my best games, can’t say that I’ve done enough to help this team win. I need to do more. Everybody needs to do more.”

Can Manning still win games?

“Every time I get in the huddle I say ‘take me home 10.’ To me he carries weight because he’s been there, he knows how to win, he’s the most prepared of anybody I’ve ever seen,” Beckham said.

Beckham didn’t confirm or deny that he had been fined by the team for his ESPN interview with Josina Anderson.

“It is what is is,” Beckham said. “You just take it on the chin.”

Beckham said the non-football headlines were “unfortunate.”

“I think the extra-curricular comes with losing,” he said. “We know what it’s like when you’re losing, especially when you’re losing here.”

Beckham did continue to insist he had no regrets about anything that has happened.

“I’ve said this all the time, never have any regrets. At one point in time, it was exactly what you wanted,” he said. “It is what it is. I don’t believe in everything’s a test or anything like that. Everything’s an opportunity to learn and grow, that’s really it. There’s no more tests. The testing’s over. You’ve prepared for the test, you’ve studied for it. It’s just an opportunity to learn and grow.”