Oct 2, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (19) carries the ball as Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Vince Williams (98) defends during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made his first appearance in front of a sizeable press corps to clear up a few things on Tuesday.
Beckham did his best to address perceived misconceptions about some of his offseason decisions and to reassure everyone that he is not disgruntled because of his contract.
Beckham also wanted to convey that he is serious about his behavior after being issued a challenge by team management at the end of last season.
As for his contract, Beckham had a different approach.
“I’ll leave that in the hands of the man above,” Beckham said about his contract, which in its fourth season will pay him $1,839,027 base salary this year. “When that time comes, it comes. Right now is really not the time to discuss it. When that time comes, it comes.”
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell was not spotted during the team’s minicamp, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
The minicamp is mandatory for all players under contract. Bell has not signed his franchise tender and can’t be fined for his absence.
Bell, who is coming off groin surgery, has until the July 15 deadline to work out a deal for franchised players. If not, the 25-year-old Bell will play the 2017 season on the $12 million franchise tender.
–Houston Texans left tackle Duane Brown failed to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp.
Brown’s absence is due to his desire for a new contract, the Houston Chronicle reported.
The 31-year-old has two seasons remaining on his six-year contract, but there is no more guaranteed money remaining on the deal. He is slated to make a base salary of $9.65 million in 2017 and $9.75 million in 2018.
–There was one notable addition and one notable subtraction for the Buffalo Bills on the first day of their mandatory minicamp. Running back LeSean McCoy was suffering from a stomach virus and did not practice, but wide receiver Sammy Watkins surprisingly took a few reps in the 11-on-11 portion, the first time all offseason he has done that.
Head coach Sean McDermott said the Bills are going to continue to “be smart” regarding Watkins as he comes back from his second foot surgery, but they also need to start ramping him up because they expect him to participate fully in training camp. “We’re focused on getting him ready for training camp,” McDermott said.
Watkins had been doing nothing on the field during the OTA segments as he spent the bulk of his time in the training room doing rehab exercises. Last week, he was able to participate briefly in some of the individual drills, running routes and catching passes, but once the Bills went into 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 team work, Watkins sat out.
–The Baltimore Ravens created a buzz even before stepping on the field for mandatory minicamp this week with the signing of free-agent receiver Jeremy Maclin.
Maclin, who was released by Kansas City on June 2, agreed to a two-year deal and immediately boosted the Ravens’ offense, which desperately needed another playmaker. Maclin is expected to arrive at the team’s practice facility in Owings Mills, Md., on Wednesday.
“Any time you can add a good player, it helps your team out,” Joe Flacco said. “We have a lot of guys competing hard right now and putting him in that room will just up that ante a little bit. I’ve run into Jeremy before in South Jersey when he was playing for Philly. He’s a great kid and I think he’s going to like it around here.”
–Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was the recipient of the Good Guy Award, the Professional Football Writers of America organization announced.
The award recognizes an NFL player “for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs.”
Fitzgerald is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and the franchise’s leader in nearly every receiving category. The 33-year-old was also named co-winner of the Walter Payton “Man of the Year” award, the only league recognition that acknowledges a player’s community service and playing excellence.
–The San Francisco 49ers signed quarterback C.J. Beathard to a four-year deal, the team announced.
Beathard became the ninth of the team’s 10 picks of the 2017 draft to be under contract. No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas, a rookie defensive end out of Stanford, is the lone draft pick yet to sign.
The 23-year-old Beathard, who was the second of San Francisco’s two third-round picks, will join a quarterback depth chart that includes Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley.
–Longtime personnel executive and former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams has been promoted by Washington to senior vice president of player personnel, the team announced.
Williams, 61, has worked in the Redskins’ personnel department since 2014. He served as a personnel executive with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2004 to 2008 and was promoted to the team’s director of pro personnel for the 2009 season.
“In Doug’s interview with us, he presented a plan and we had several talks after that and we accepted Doug’s plan,” Redskins owner Bruce Allen said Tuesday. “His resume is impressive, as you all know, but it’s really remarkable when you consider everything he’s done that matters in this job.”
