Odell Beckham’s quiet Giants leadership starts with a dinner
On Thanksgiving Day and night, Odell Beckham Jr. will again show his teammates that often it is better to give than to receive.
Every Thursday night, Beckham has the wide receivers and other teammates on the defensive side of the ball over for dinner and Thursday night football at his crib.
Thanksgiving will be no exception.
“He’s the most, like, giving person I’ve probably ever been around,” Sterling Shepard told The Post.
Beckham was not available to the media on Wednesday, but turkey is expected to be on the menu.
“I know he’ll have one over there for sure,” Shepard said. “I have some family coming in, but we might do a little joint deal and then have all the receivers that don’t have family coming in come over there. I think my mom’s gonna have one at my house, if we don’t end up doing the joint deal, I don’t know what the plan is.”
To his teammates, he is Odellicious.
As much as he has driven John Mara batty from time to time, the way that Beckham is admired and loved by so many teammates made making him the highest-paid receiver in the game much more palatable.
Mara would give thanks to a drama-free Beckham, who turned 26 on Nov. 6, serving as the unstoppable yin to Saquon Barkley’s yang.
Beckham (69-932-5 TDs) caught 2 TDs against the 49ers and another against the Bucs. Lost in the aftermath of the Lil Wayne fiasco is that Beckham is on pace for a career year, returning with a vengeance following his ankle injury to take aim at his 101-1367-10 TD 2016 season.
“I think a lot of people — I’m not saying all people — but a lot of people take what they see in the media and things that are portrayed in a negative light towards him, and they just run with it,” Shepard said.
“But people that actually know Odell, and if you ask people that actually know Odell, it’s compleeeetly different. He puts a smile on everybody’s face. You can ask anybody in this building, he’s the happiest person in the building.”
Shrimp pasta and steak were served last Thursday.
Who cooks?
“Chef,” Shepard said.
Wide receiver Bennie Fowler talked about how Beckham has given him pointers since he became a Giant on Oct. 16.
“To be like the most popular person in the NFL, the way he carries himself and the way he goes about things I think is very impressive,” Fowler told the Post.
Fowler was expecting macaroni and cheese. “He’s from Louisiana, so there’s gotta be southern hospitality (smile),” Fowler said.
Landon Collins and B.W. Webb were over at Beckham’s for one of the Thursday night affairs. “I’d probably say 20 guys,” Fowler said.
Russell Shepard played with Beckham at LSU.
“He’s maturing man … he’s growing into the leader I think this organization wants and needs, and I think he’s gonna be a good player here for a long time,” Shepard said.
From the day he was drafted, Beckham has burned to be legendary.
“You’re not gonna have that type of success on the field and not be a leader,” Michael Thomas said. “Saquon (Barkley) is a natural-born leader.”
Beckham is still learning how to be a leader. “I just know that he’s very passionate, and that’s contagious,” Thomas said. “His work ethic is great. He wants to be great, he wants everybody in here to be great, and when he speaks, guys listen. That’s a leader.”’
Beckham returns to the scene of the crass crime on Sunday, his Stupid Pet Trick in the Linc end zone last season that prompted a sit-down with John Mara. Odell Barkham no longer.
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“Best teammate you could possibly have, very energetic, very personable, will talk to anyone, literally, will connect with anyone … you forget because of all the superstardom that he’s younger than me,” Thomas said.
And only 15 months older than Collins.
“He’s honest, he’s a lovable guy, he always keeps a smile on his face, he comes with a great attitude, he’s coming with a work attitude to where he wants to continue bettering himself and bettering his teammates,” Collins said.
Beckham saying that the Giants’ goal was 8-0 two weeks ago resonated among his teammates.
“Everybody was already thinking that. O just came out and said it,” Shepard said.
On Sunday, it will be better for Beckham to receive than to give.
