BEREA, Ohio — It's been nine months since LeBron James announced the decision to head to Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten about Northeast Ohio. Especially when there's a new star in town.
The Cleveland Browns on Monday introduced receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., about three weeks after acquiring him from the New York Giants in a trade for safety Jabrill Peppers, the 17th overall pick and a third-round pick.
It was Beckham's first meeting with the media as a Cleveland Brown, and he spent the press conference alongside new teammates Baker Mayfield, Myles Garrett and longtime friend Jarvis Landry.
Landry and Beckham discussed their friendship, which carried them through college together at LSU. Beckham said he even called Landry right after he talked to his mother about his trade to Cleveland.
While Beckham will likely receive plenty of advice from Landry, who joined the Browns in 2018, he also revealed some words of wisdom he received from another athlete familiar with Cleveland -- LeBron James.
James showed his support for Beckham back when the trade was first announced, posting a photo of Beckham wearing a Browns jersey with the caption, "OH MY!!!! S*#% just got REAL!!"
Beckham commented on the post, asking James if he could live in his house with, "Lemme hold the crib down."
Since then, James and Beckham have had the opportunity to talk, which Beckham revealed Monday.
"I asked him if I could borrow the house but he said it's too big for me to stay there by myself," Beckham laughed.
Beckham continued, "He just said, 'You're going to love it. You're going to love Cleveland.'"
Beckham called James his idol and said James helped him get his bearings before he moves to Northeast Ohio.
"To see what he did to bring a championship here, I just want to be able to do that same thing," he said.
