Odell Beckham Jr. has something like 90,000,000 reasons to be happy entering the 2018 season.
The polarizing but productive New York Giants wide receiver, as famous for his one-handed grabs as his colorful character, landed a five-year contract extension Monday that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver.
Beyond the big bucks, however, Beckham is thankful for the spiritual direction that fueled his journey to a new deal.
“Most importantly, I have to thank God for being able to put me back together mentally, physically, spiritually,” the Pro Bowl wideout said upon signing his contract, as reported by Giants.com. “This is just truly amazing; I don’t even know the right words to describe.”
The same day Beckham cashed in with the Giants, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham detailed the star receiver’s sometimes-controversial quest to be an “immortal player” and celebrity — his battles with self-confidence, his purpose as a football player and the usual traps of worldwide acclaim.
Now handsomely paid and apparently possessing renewed focus, OBJ himself has suggested that faith has played a part in his turnaround. This offseason, he talked of being “forgiven” after a trip to the Holy Land, where he was baptized in the Jordan River. He’s hinted at a “fresh start” thanks to God, and on Tuesday, a day after inking his contract, he again sent credit above: “God, I can’t even put into words my gratitude.”
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A first-round draft pick of the Giants in 2014, Beckham Jr. missed all but four games due to injury in 2017. When he’s been healthy, though, he’s regularly ranked among the NFL’s leading receivers, posting 1,300-yard campaigns in each of his first three years as a pro.
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