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Odell Beckham is Not Thrilled With Teasing by Eli Manning and other Teammates

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. sat out during the team’s mandatory miniamp due to another hamstring injury. Since the injury, Beckham’s teammates, Eli Manning included, took to teasing him about missing practices.

Manning claims the lighthearted taunts are good to keep Beckham in positive spirits while he is sidelined:

“It’s fun-loving, guys aren’t getting on him or mad at him,’’ Manning said Friday morning on WFAN (h/t New York Post). “We’re out there practicing, you’re just kind of making fun of, you know, you might say: ‘Hey, how’s your fingernail? Is it still hurt and keeping you out of practice?’ Just little things like that, just trying to keep things loose.’’

While Manning may believe a little teasing is harmless, it is reported by a Giants official that things are getting to Beckham and described the receiver as “grumpy.”

Beckham spoke with ESPN this week regarding his status:

“It takes a lot of strength for me to be able to come here every day and not practice, have to hear the little remarks, the little jokes, this and that.’’

“Because of the hamstring last year and then the fame, it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re too big-time now,’ all that.” “So I mean, I just hear it and you want to blow it off, but after a while it gets old, and it kind of bothers you.”

Beckham, who was doing fine up to a few weeks ago, experienced some pain in his right hamstring. As a precaution, the Giants held Beckham out of the last part of their OTAs. During this week’s minicamp, Beckham and fellow wide receiver Victor Cruz, who is recovering from knee surgery, practiced a bit from the sidelines. It is reported that the duo ran a few sprints and played catch. For the most part, Beckham sat to the side and watched his team practice.

This is much like last preseason when Beckham was saddled with an injury to a left hamstring that he suffered during spring practice. The injury kept Beckham out the first four games of the regular season. Although once Beckham debuted, he dominated, tallying 91 receptions, 1,305 yards, and 12 touchdowns. This was good enough to earn Beckham Jr. NFL Rookie of the Year honors and the cover of Madden 16.

There’s no doubt Beckham will turn heads again this year once he is able to hit the field at full speed. Unfortunately, until that time comes, Beckham will have to put up with a little ribbing from some teammates.

Photo: USA Today Sports

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