The Giants are hoping their $95 million investment was worth it. Photo by Andy Lewis / contrastphotography.com

You know it’s a big deal when the President & CEO of the team holds a press conference about a player signing.

And that’s exactly what John Mara did Tuesday after the New York Football Giants announced they had signed Odell Beckham, Jr. to a five-year $95 million deal with $65 million in guaranteed money. That’s more than any receiver in NFL history.

Mara was asked what his expectations of Beckham are now.

“I think like we said in the release, we expect a great season out of him,” the long-time owner said. “I’ve had three of those so far, and he’s done everything the right way, starting back in the offseason program. He’s been terrific throughout training camp. I think he’s raring to go.”

As brilliant as Beckham has been on the field, his behavior as at times been an embarrassment to the franchise, on and off the field.

Some of those incidents include an wild battle with Washington cornerback Josh Norman in Week 3 of the 2016 season; a trip to Florida in 2016 with teammates the week of a Wild Card playoff game that Big Blue lost; This summer Beckham was slapped with a $15 million lawsuit alleging his bodyguard had beaten someone pretty badly; and the probably the worst…Beckham on all fours imitating a dog taking a leak on a fire hydrant, except he did it in the Eagles end zone after scoring a touchdown during their Week three game in Philadelphia in 2017. A game the Giants lost on a 61-yard walk-off field goal.
Mara was asked if he had any reservations with Beckham.

“I think he’s matured quite a bit,” he said. “I think that stuff hopefully is in the past. I think he’s ready to go on and be the type of player and citizen that we expect him to be, and I think he will be.”
Mara was asked if there a specific point this offseason that he changed his mind to allow him to give up this much guaranteed money.

“I can’t say there was one specific point,” Mara said. “I think it evolved over a period of time. There was an intention to sign him at some point. The only question was, was it going to be this year, or were we going to give him another year to prove himself. But as I said, he came in with the right attitude. His energy level has been off the roof. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. We feel good about having him on our team for the next five years.”

Beckham, at a press conference Tuesday, talked about the pressure of being more of a leader now that the Giants made their commitment to him.

“I don’t know if it puts any extra that I haven’t already put on myself,” said Beckham, who missed the last 12 games last season after fracturing his ankle against the LA Chargers. “Coming in early in training camp, being able to be here and knowing where I’m at in life, and knowing that I do need to be a leader, and there are guys that are watching me and I need to be there on days that I need to be bringing energy somewhere else. I don’t know if it’s any extra responsibility that I didn’t already put on myself going into this year, year five, being a vet. I couldn’t say it was any extra, but I know that my goals are if not the same, higher. I just want to be able to be my very, very best.”
Beckham said getting a contract like this was always a goal of his.

“You kind of dream about this moment all your life,” Beckham said. “In fact, you’ve dedicated everything, you sacrifice weekends, your parents have sacrificed weekend after weekend traveling, doing this and that just to be able to get to this point, so it is a relief and it’s a wonderful opportunity for myself and my family.”

Beckham downplayed the the title of “highest paid wide receiver.”

“I just wanted to get the contract done, whatever was going to happen with it was going to happen,” He said. “It’s not like it’s going to change the way that I want to play and the way that I want to perform. I’m more, like I said, relieved to get it done and just be able to start a new chapter of my life. It’s exciting, and I’m very thankful for where I’m at.”

First year head coach Pat Shurmur was asked if he was relieved to get this deal out of the way.

“I mean, that’s been in the background,” Shurmur said. “But for those of you that have been here all the way through, you’ve seen that he’s practiced hard, he’s been training like he was going to play and this was obviously significant, but it was an issue of the day yesterday. I’ve been pleased with what he’s done, getting himself ready to play and I’m sure for him, it’s a relief to have it done.”

Beckham was asked about the idea of being beloved by Giants fans at the same level a select few players in franchise history have been…players like Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning and Phil Simms.
He has an opportunity to get there. How much does that mean to him to be able to possibly do that?

“That’s a great list to be mentioned in,” Beckham said. “The Giants fans, I love them. I love everybody who’s supported me wearing a 13 jersey, everybody who’s a Giants fan. They’re die-hard Giants fans, and their love and support that they’ve given me since I’ve walked into this building has allowed me to be able to go out there. It’s extra motivation to go hard. To be able to be mentioned with those guys and hopefully be able to do things that they did, hang up banners – that’s always the goal.” *

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii