BEREA, Ohio — When it comes to Odell Beckham Jr.'s departure from the Cleveland Browns, one word comes to mind for head coach Kevin Stefanski.
"It's disappointing," Stefanski told reporters on Friday, two days ahead of the team's Week 9 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. "It's unfortunate how it all went down but I wish him well."
Stefanski's comments came just hours after the Browns officially released the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, who had reportedly requested a trade from the team following Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday. While the trade request was kept private, Beckham found himself at the center of controversy after his 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 hours ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline.
After being unable to trade Beckham by the deadline, the Browns excused the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year from practice on Wednesday and Thursday. By Friday -- Beckham's 29th birthday -- the two sides had reportedly reached terms on a reworked contract and an agreement for Cleveland to release the LSU product.
Beckham's release brings to a two-year-plus stint with the Browns in which he and Mayfield failed to develop a consistent on-field chemistry. The disconnect between the two was apparent in Cleveland's loss to the Steelers on Sunday, in which Beckham caught one pass for six yards on his lone official target of the game.
"It's my job to get the most out of our players," Stefanski said on Friday. "I'm always disappointed when I can't do that."
Having been released by the Browns, Beckham will now be subjected to waivers, where teams will have until 4 p.m. ET on Monday to claim his contract. Should he pass through waivers unclaimed, he will then become a free agent with the ability to sign with any team.