BEREA, Ohio — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a previous story."
Shortly after the Cleveland Browns excused wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. from Wednesday's practice, head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that general manager Andrew Berry is currently in the midst of conversations with the wide receiver's representatives.
"Andrew Berry and his representatives will continue to talk," Stefanski said. "So Odell won't be out there."
Asked about a specific report from NFL reporter Mike Silver that Stefanski told Browns players that Beckham was no longer a part of the team, the head coach answered: "Today he's excused and we'll see where this goes."
The Browns' decision to keep Beckham home from practice, coupled with Stefanski's comments, seem to indicate that the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver's time in Cleveland could be nearing an end. With the 2021 NFL Trade Deadline having passed, the Browns' only option for parting ways with Beckham at this point in the season would be to release him.
Hours ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., posted an 11-minute and 24-second long video clip of quarterback Baker Mayfield missing his son on various throws throughout the 2021 season to his verified Instagram account.
The older Beckham also wasn't shy to reply to comments on his post, agreeing with criticisms of Mayfield on multiple occasions.
Additionally, Beckham's friend and NBA superstar LeBron James took to Twitter to encourage the Browns to part ways with the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
"OBJ will show again why he’s special. WR1 #FreeOBJ," James tweeted.
Ultimately, the trade deadline came and passed without the Browns dealing their star wide receiver. Since being acquired in a trade with the New York Giants in March of 2019, Beckham has failed to develop a consistent on-field chemistry with Mayfield -- a disconnect that was clear in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which Beckham was targeted just once, catching one pass for six yards.