THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. –
When the Los Angeles Rams discovered they’d an opportunity to land Odell Beckham Jr., their veterans assembled within the locker room Thursday morning. Jalen Ramsey made a name, and the Rams took turns recruiting the veteran receiver to their West Coast dwelling.
“Felt like school, huh?” receiver Robert Woods mentioned with a smile.
The Rams clearly bought themselves and their Tremendous Bowl imaginative and prescient fairly nicely to the mercurial receiver.
Beckham agreed to a one-year take care of Los Angeles, selecting this burgeoning tremendous workforce over a number of potential free-agent locations.
The Browns launched the disgruntled Beckham on Monday, halfway by way of his third season in Cleveland. He cleared waivers Tuesday with no workforce prepared to choose up the US$7.25 million he was owed below his final contract, liberating the five-time 1,000-yard wideout to signal with any workforce.
After contemplating his choices and getting the full-court press from his future teammates, Beckham elected to hitch NFL yards passing chief Matthew Stafford and coach Sean McVay within the league’s most efficient passing offence.
“I’ve plenty of respect for who he’s as a participant,” mentioned Stafford, who performed with Beckham in a Professional Bowl. “It is a chance for us as a workforce. It is a chance for him to return in right here and show himself to us. What our room is about, the receiver room, is fairly particular. I do know he’ll match proper in and simply proceed to get higher, and hopefully it is going to assist us as a workforce.”
The Rams swooped in pretty late within the courtship. They closed the take care of the swashbuckling aptitude that is outlined their entrance workplace below common supervisor Les Snead, who has hardly ever confronted a wage cap problem he could not overcome.
The three-time Professional Bowl choice will play alongside NFL receiving chief Cooper Kupp — who has 74 catches for 1,019 yards and 10 TDs, all tops within the league — and starters Robert Woods (556 yards) and second-year professional Van Jefferson (443 yards). A type of three receivers is prone to see much less taking part in time after Beckham joins the Rams, who’ve run offensive units that includes three receivers nearly completely this season.
That is not a priority, in line with the receivers who will probably be affected. With Stafford and McVay calling the pictures, they consider all people can thrive and win.
“We’re all working for a similar objective,” Woods mentioned. “His factor is, I really feel like, why he left — he wished to be part of it and contribute, and I believe simply coming into this offence, he needs to work and contribute. We’re all working towards the identical objective: successful, grinding. I do not assume it needs to be something disruptive.”
The Rams (7-2) go to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday evening earlier than their bye week.
Beckham is the second veteran NFL star prior to now two weeks to hitch the Rams, who appear to be making an attempt all the things to emerge from a crowded NFC to allow them to play in February’s Tremendous Bowl at their very own SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Los Angeles traded for Von Miller final week, sending two excessive draft picks to Denver for the vaunted pass-rushing linebacker. Miller has but to debut for LA, however he was amongst these recruiting Beckham by telephone.
The Rams additionally do not hesitate so as to add expertise even to areas during which they’re robust: Miller joined a defence that already leads the NFL in sacks, whereas Beckham is becoming a member of an offence that DeSean Jackson left two weeks in the past as a result of he could not get taking part in time in entrance of LA’s three starters.
Kupp and Woods emerged from their discussions assured Beckham needs to purchase in.
“I believe the factor about taking part in right here is whenever you’re not about what we’re about, whenever you’re not about taking part in for the blokes subsequent to you, I believe you may stick out like a sore thumb,” Kupp mentioned. “We have now a terrific tradition right here. Guys play for one another. They work day in and time out in order that after we step on the sphere, you’re taking good care of the man subsequent to you.”
The Rams ardently chased Beckham earlier than he was traded to Cleveland by the Giants in March 2019, and McVay has spoken glowingly of Beckham’s skills through the years. Beckham’s velocity, athleticism and ball expertise ought to present a welcome possibility for the Rams, who’re already again among the many NFL’s high offensive groups after a two-year lull.
Lakers star LeBron James welcomed Beckham on Twitter shortly earlier than the deal was introduced: “Welcome to LA my brother @obj! It is GO TIME!!”
They’re shut buddies, and Beckham — who already has a house in Los Angeles — has been making common offseason appearances courtside at Staples Heart since even earlier than LeBron arrived in 2018.
The 29-year-old Beckham has the prospect to revitalize his profession with the Rams after his tenure in Cleveland by no means bought rolling and ultimately got here to a reasonably ugly end.
After lacking the tip of final season with a knee harm, he has solely 17 catches for 232 yards and 0 touchdowns in six video games this 12 months. His father just lately shared a video grasp lower of Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield not getting the ball to Beckham, basically forcing the breakup with Cleveland.
Browns security John Johnson, who spent the previous 4 seasons with the Rams, was on a Zoom name with Cleveland reporters when the information of Beckham’s signing broke. Johnson questioned how OBJ will slot in LA.
“They’d a great factor going, like a whole offence,” Johnson mentioned. “I simply really feel like, from being in LA, I do know for a reality the offence runs by way of Cooper Kupp. Even within the run recreation, the go recreation, the display screen recreation, it form of runs by way of Cooper Kupp. So clearly, Odell’s an enormous identify and he will need that spotlight as nicely. It is going to be attention-grabbing.
“Coach McVay, he is probably the greatest doing it. He’ll discover a approach to get it achieved, however proper off the bat, I actually would not wish to go there if I had been him, however we’ll see the way it goes and I want him the most effective.”
The Rams have been remarkably profitable at managing the egos and desires of their elite gamers, with McVay assuaging nearly all public disenchantment with the group. Ramsey was thought of a possible locker room drawback after he compelled his manner out of Jacksonville, however he has been a mannequin citizen and a transparent workforce chief in Los Angeles.
Beckham could have ample motivation to suit into Los Angeles’ successful tradition after showing in only one playoff recreation in his complete NFL profession. He spent his first 5 NFL seasons in New York, however the Giants reached the postseason solely in 2016.
“I believe folks overlook his first three, 4 years within the league … it was ridiculous, the tempo he was on,” Kupp mentioned. “Hopefully he can are available right here and simply take that and be that very same participant. Are available right here, be explosive, be environment friendly and make performs for us.”
