DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Odell Beckham Jr. and Duke Johnson absent on 2nd day of OTAs

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was absent on the second day of voluntary OTAs Wednesday after showing up for the first day on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s session is the only one of the week open to the media, meaning fans won’t get to hear from Beckham this week on how his offseason has been going so far.

Running back Duke Johnson, who’s asked to be traded, is also absent for the second straight day. A source told cleveland.com that he plans to participate in OTAs, but it’s uncertain if he’ll show for any of the 10 practices over the next three weeks.

Receiver Jarvis Landry, who was here on Tuesday, is outside watching his teammates practice but isn’t participating.

Running back Kareem Hunt will address the media Wednesday for the first time since the Browns signed him in February.

As for Beckham, coach Freddie Kitchens has talked to him frequently about his plan for voluntary OTAs, and he says he’s comfortable with it. The Browns would love to have Beckham here full time, but they’ll take what they can get, which could be as little as once a week over the next three weeks.

In New York, Beckham participated in about seven of the 10 OTAs and also attended Pat Shurmur’s extra minicamp for new head coaches. He skipped Kitchens’, but the coach said he wasn’t miffed at his star receiver.

On Tuesday, Beckham participated fully and caught numerous passes from Baker Mayfield. Beckham has been working out on his own in Los Angeles, where he mostly lives in the offseason.

Hunt, released by Kansas City last season after being captured on video pushing and kicking a woman, is permitted to practice with the team until his eight-game suspension begins at the start of the season. The Browns are working with the NFL to see if Hunt can attend meetings and work out at the team’s facility during his ban.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/05...talk-today.html

Absence from the voluntary OTA's doesn't concern me so much. It would be nice to have every player there, but it rarely happens. We'll keep an eye out moving forward in the offseason.

Kareem Hunt: Keeping fingers crossed he stays out of drama for the first 2 months of the season.

Like it or not, with loaded talent comes a locker room filled with loaded egos.

If we're winning, no worries.

If we go on a bit of a losing streak, let's hope Kitchens has some control over the player talk that might well come out.

Baker Mayfield on Odell Beckham: You trust he’ll be there when it matters
Posted by Josh Alper on May 15, 2019, 5:09 PM EDT

AP
Wide receiver Odell Beckham made a cameo appearance at Browns OTAs this week, but he wasn’t around on Wednesday when head coach Freddie Kitchens, quarterback Baker Mayfield and others from the team met with the media.

Kitchens downplayed the absence of a player during voluntary workouts and said he’d only be concerned in Beckham misses mandatory work. Mayfield took a similar approach when asked about the wideout.

“You let a guy like that be him,” Mayfield said, via the team’s website. “Everybody has their routine. Stick to what’s working, and for him, obviously it’s been working for a while. He’s gonna do what he’s gonna do. You’ve got to trust he’s going to be there when it matters and we know who he is.”

The hope in Cleveland is that Beckham’s arrival will help lift an offense that has stockpiled talent over the last two years. Mayfield acknowledged that talent, but said the big question now is what the Browns are going to do with it. That answer won’t come for a while and Beckham should be on hand when it comes time to provide it.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20...hen-it-matters/

While I would like to see him there, I don't care that he isn't.

Doesn't bother me!

A guy like Duke, I could care less if he attends these. He's going to execute and perform at a high level at all times.

First pass Odell drops or route that he runs wrong, we'll have the people going crazy. "This is why he should have been at OTAs!"

First touchdown or key catch he makes, that will all be forgotten.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me loathe the offseason. I like seeing how things are progressing, but we have to talk about something, so we find things to nitpick.

I'd feel better if Odell was here, even if he wasnt participating ... just say "I'm here to learn and build chemistry, but not going to be actually participating"

You know it's funny. In one thread people were like, "See, he showed up to OTA's", like it meant something. Then when he's a no show they say it means nothing.

Quite a fickle bunch.

(General reply...not directed at you Pit)
You know what. This is EXACTLY why he was perceived to be a cancer in New York. Not because of anything he did or did not do...But because of all the armchair experts inferring "too much" one way or another.

You talk to anyone who has played with him and they all sing a tune VASTLY different from the public perception. But no one wants to believe that.

RIGHT NOW...it doesn't really matter. Could it be better if he was there??? Maybe....maybe not. He and Kitchens are speaking daily. So Kitchens knows the story...we don't...And If Freddie isn't worried. I am not worried.

Do you go to each and EVERY voluntary event your company or business puts on??? I would say that unless it is a small company that it is very likely you don't.

A company picnic isn't really quite the same thing is it?

I don't know...it is about Team Building isn't it?

But those are not the only events thrown. There are plenty of times when people come in to speak and it is not mandatory....could you benefit from the info? Sure, but you have too much work occupying your mind...Many companies do much of their own training. Is anyone taking every single class??? Or just the mandatory ones??? It is not just about picnics...

I guess if you're new to the company, need to make new relationships and bonds with fellow employees you don't know and all need to get on the same page, it may be a little more important. But nah, let's just compare it to something that is no way relative.

j/c:

I wish OBJ was participating. I don't see this as a big deal, but it would be nice if he was working w/his new teammates.

A week or so ago, I was listening to a couple of former NFL players speak about the "Voluntary" workouts. To summarize, they said that it's not really "voluntary" when you are a young player or a fringe player. But, it's not a big deal at all if you are an established star at your position.

I am not a fan of double standards, but those guys seemed okay w/it.

If he were still with the Giants I believe that would be correct. But he's with a new team, a new QB in a new city. He isn't "established" here.

Are you in an argumentative mood today, bro?

No. It's just pretty simply in my book. To me when you've been with the same team and with the same QB, you're established and familiar with the system.

Those same things are not true when you move to a new team, with a new QB and a new fan base. You then have to establish yourself and familiarize yourself within that new environment.

So I don't see where it's some great mystery that circumstances come into play here.

The former players who were talking were asked about OBJ planing to skip the "voluntary" workouts. I probably wasn't clear about that.

Either way, I don't care too much about this one way or the other. Have a good one, bro.

Agreed.

He talks about turning the Browns into the new Patriots and winning Super Bowls here, but to me, actions speak louder than words. He should be there.

I don't think it's a huge issue at this juncture. But I do feel it deserves watching moving forward. I'm not sure if you saw these comments from Kitchen's, but if you haven't, they may cause you to feel the situation may run deeper than we know.



Have a good one Bud.

J/c

Him not being there is a DICK MOVE ... its SELLFISH ... plain and simple its SELLFISH ... its what primma donna’s do ....

He is not being a good teammate right now ... from what all his ex teammates say he is a GREAT TEAMMATE so i don’t see this being an issue as far as him being a good teammate .... but this is not what a good teammate does ....

He should be there ... hes not ... move on ... in the grand scheme of things its not even close to being a big deal .... just because i don’t like it or its not right doesn’t mean its going to hinder his performance come fall weekends ...

He is a hard worker that prepares with the best of them ... he’ll be ready and thats what really matters .... but this is still a dick move ...

A better message would have been sent if they'd been there. This team needs positive press and young guys need to see buy in by all. In the big picture it's not huge as it was voluntary but at this juncture in Browns history I'd have liked to see full participation.

j/c

Whether Beckham is at OTAs or not makes no difference to me, as long as he plays hard and is a good teammate. That said, I agree with those who have said it would be better for him to be in camp, not for the reps, but for the image. It reminds me of the basketball player who claimed that it's not his job to be a role model. Well, famous athletes are role models, whether they want the job or not. By not showing up and being part of the team, OBJ is setting an example for both the new Browns and young fans.

I prefer that Odell prepares himself for the season in the best fashion for him. If that means he has is own trainging regimin that works best for him, rather than OTAs, I'm fine with that. He has plenty of time to gel with the team.

I'll be fair, too.

I already said that I wish that OBJ was at the voluntary workouts and getting to know his new teammates.

I said something similar about Baker. I said I wish he would have worked w/a qb coach during the offseason. I didn't rip him a new one.

My comments were similar for both, it's just that posters are much more sensitive when it comes to any comment make about Baker than they are OBJ.

One more thing. Do you realize that our conversation is almost certain to lead to the usual suspects attacking me again? Thanks bro.

OBJ and Baker seem to be on the same page...

I agree w/both of your sentiments. I wish OBJ was there and I was hoping that Baker would work w/a qb coach because I saw that he sometimes opens up too far w/his left foot. That is what causes his accuracy issues. He is very, very accurate most of the time, but when he misses, it is almost always due to that front foot stepping too far to the left.

That is a common problem w/qbs. It can be fixed, but it's muscle memory. Much like a golf swing. Not sure if you are a golfer or not. But, it takes a lot of reps to correct muscle memory issues.

In OBJ's case, he has to know that his character has been questioned. Look at that idiotic piece done by Coward. Why draw that attention to yourself? Show up and participate. Make wise PR decisions, young man.

Either way, I am not dogging either guy. I just wish both would have made a different decision.

If it was me that had the choice of OBJ being there or not, I'd choose there over not there.

j/c...sort of

First off, I would prefer he be there right now. However...

It has been said - and Tab just noted - that he has a specific workout plan. He's had that plan for quite some time. When laying out his off-season schedule, he believed he would be with his old - and only - team...and not attending voluntary OTAs would not matter much.

I don't think changing up such schedules is as easy as it may seem. Giving him the benefit of the doubt here.

j/c

I'm still very surprised that nobody seems to consider this quote by Freddie a bit concerning....

I do. You even replied to my post when I quoted Kitchens in it.

I guess I should have stated that I'm surprised "more people" aren't concerned by it.