New York Giants fans and players alike are probably itching to see soon-to-be second-year wide receiver and 2014 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Odell Beckham Jr., return to the field as soon as possible.
Beckham, the man known affectionately as ODB, lit the NFL world on fire last year to the tune of 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in just 12 games of work, earning himself a Pro Bowl berth and an All Pro selection in the process. With fellow wide receiver Victor Cruz attempting to return from a gruesome patellar injury and aging signal-caller Eli Manning looking to take another step forward in Ben McAdoo's offense, Beckham's contributions are sorely needed as soon as possible.
ODB though, has been nursing a hamstring injury thus far in Giants offseason work that has kept him on the sidelines and away from his team. Beckham revealed recently that the injury has drawn a bit of commentary from teammates and it's something that's started to rub him the wrong way.
"For me, this is what I love doing, and this is what I feel like my purpose was to do," Beckham said, via Dan Graziano of ESPN. "So 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.
"And it's not just about a hamstring. It's so many other things that people talk about. So it's hard to come here and try and focus on 'What play is up right now?' instead of thinking about how bad you want to be out there."
Beckham hurt his left hamstring during spring practices last year, returned for a short time only to then reinjure it again and remained out until Week 5 of the 2014 regular season.
Once he arrived on the scene though, he really arrived on the scene, so all seemed to be forgiven between Giants fans, coaches and players and Beckham after Beckham put together a historic rookie season and provided ample reason for hope heading into NFL Year Two.
Now that the same scene seems to be playing itself out again though, concern has mounted.
"Everybody," Beckham said when asked who was giving him grief. "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."
While there's been no indication from the Giants or Beckham that his hamstring injury should hamper him during the regular season, it's probably not anyone's preference that ODB continue to miss offseason work.
Then again, even if he misses every training camp practice and every preseason game, if he returns for the opener and makes the same kind of impact he did last year, all will likely be forgiven and forgotten.
