BEREA, Ohio — Odell Beckham Jr. is one of the Cleveland Browns’ premiere playmakers, but he believes the team needs to get more from him, and that is exactly what he plans on bringing to the field against the New England Patriots Sunday.
The Pro Bowl wide receiver took the bye week to relax, but also, redouble his commitment to the team, which was something he stated was a personal goal heading into the 32-28 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, October 13.
“I still have the same mentality, still want to go in there and give this team everything I have,” Beckham Jr. said after Wednesday’s practice.
Beckham Jr. leads the Browns with 29 catches, which he has turned into 436 yards, a 15.0 yards-per-reception average, and one touchdown, an 89-yard score in 23-3 win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 16.
Beckham Jr. is second on the team, trailing only his longtime friend, Jarvis Landry, for the most receiving yards on the team, and he used the midseason break from football to refocus mentally in order to return to Berea at top form.
“I felt like I was letting them down in that way because of my past experiences and we all have our own internal battles to fight and let go, so it’s just something that I was dealing with and it’s like not bringing your sword to a fight,” Beckham Jr. said.
“I never want to leave home without it or bring just a shield, like I’m not going to have any weapon [for] defense, so it’s definitely time for me to be more for this team, do more for this team, whatever it is we need to do.”
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Beckham Jr. wanted to return to the Browns ready to bring the same kind of energy, and that boost will be much needed this week, as the Browns come off the bye week to take on an undefeated Patriots (7-0) team at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
And Beckham Jr. is as committed as ever to achieve a goal he stated after joining the Browns in an offseason trade against the New York Giants.
“When I said I want to turn this into the Patriots organization, one it’s about winning, but it’s about the way they go about it,” Beckham Jr. said. “How everything is precise and everything is just perfect. It feels good to win, it feels good to succeed, and that’s what I meant by wanting to be like them. I don’t know how to be like them because I’ve never been over there, I’ve never experienced any of it.
“Right now, it’s about us establishing a connection and being a better team, just coming together. We’ve had some tough losses. Obviously, we know the mistakes and whatever you want to call ‘em. We’re a 2-4 team, but I don’t think anybody in here feels like it. It’s just time to have a sense of urgency.”