'Each Individual Has Their Own Life!' Ravens WR Odell Beckham Explains OTAs Absence
The Baltimore Ravens have just a month of "summer break" until the start of training camp at the end of July. For newly-signed Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr., it will be another opportunity for him to get back on the field as he works towards his return from the ACL injury suffered in the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl win over the Cincinnatti Bengals.
Beckham was announced as a "full-go" by coach John Harbaugh prior to the start of mandatory minicamp, where he was pictured in a Ravens uniform for the first time on the practice field. Yet, outside of minicamp, Beckham has been noticeably absent from the facility.
That absence has seen some ask why the 30-year-old receiver isn't voluntarily dedicating his time to rehabbing himself or getting extra work in. Beckham was recently asked about this by Fox News.
“I think the excitement when I signed with Baltimore, me not being there – we have to get to the place where we understand that all that stuff (OTAs) is voluntary, and each individual has their own lives and we don’t know what’s going on with the individual and their life,” Beckham said.
The star receiver even compared his signing to a person buying a nice car, like a Ferrari, for example.
"I joked with my people, ‘I know the Ravens just bought a Ferrari and they want to take it out on the track, but I want to take that Ferrari out on the track when we’re out in California, it’s 82 degrees with a little breeze," Beckham said. "Not when it’s a little rainy and you can’t push it to the limit.’"
This approach from Beckham is simply one about preserving his health long-term. This makes sense for him after signing a one-year deal with the Ravens, which, while it includes $14 million in guaranteed money, doesn't provide any long-term job security. Another season-ending injury could see Beckham once again back on the open market and with a further diminished value.
The former first-round pick explained that he doesn't want to "peak" right now; instead, he'd rather wait until it is the "right time," which is presumably sometime during the season.
“I think the most important thing is about how to get there and how to last for the season," Beckham added.
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