Co-owner of the New York Giants, John Mara, admitted Sunday that he was reluctant to approve the decision to swap wide-open Odell Beckham Jr. against the Cleveland Browns earlier this month.
"I'll tell you that it was a reluctant endorsement on my part because I like Odell a lot," said Mara at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, her first public comment since the transaction . "I recognize the unique talent that he has.It's not easy to trade this player against another team.
"I also understand that we have a lot of holes to fill in. If we make the right decisions with the choices, we obviously love Jabrill Peppers a lot, which met a need for us." I finally gave my 50 percent of the time. 'approval.'
The Browns sent the Giants their first-round pick (17th overall), a third and Peppers, who was drafted 25th overall in 2017, in return for Beckham. CEO Dave Gettleman told reporters last week that it was an offer he "could not refuse", despite his earlier statement that the team had not had Beckham sign an extension just for the first time. 'exchange.
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Odell Beckham Jr. throughout his career
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CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 21, 2017: No. 13 New York Giants distant catcher Odell Beckham Jr. follows action from the sideline in the first quarter of a preseason game on April 27, 2017 against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 10-6. (Photo by: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images / Getty Images)
RED RING, LA – CIRCA 2011-2012: Odell Beckham Jr., catcher # 33 on the Louisiana State University Tigers, poses for a shot in the head of Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo of Steve Franz / Louisiana State University / Getty Images)
MORGANTOWN, W.V. – SEPTEMBER 24, 2011: Odell Beckham Jr, catcher # 33 of Louisiana State University's Tigers football team, plays with the ball in the West Virginia Mountaineers game on September 24, 2011 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, in Virginia. The Tigers won 47-21. (Photo of Louisiana State University / Getty Images)
RED BATON, LA – SEPTEMBER 08: Odell Beckham Jr. No. 3 LSU Tigers launches a punt in front of Sean Parker No. 1 Washington Huskies in a game played at Tiger Stadium on September 8, 2012 in Baton Rouge in Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
RED BATON, LA – OCTOBER 26: Odell Beckham Jr. LSU No. 3 Tigers participates in pre-game exercises prior to a game at Tiger Stadium against the Palman Furman on October 26, 2013 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the match 48-16. (Photo by Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
08 MAY 2014: New York Giants' 12th pick, Odell Beckham Jr., holds a Giants jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. held at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (Photo of Rich Graessle / SMI Icon / Corbis via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 19: New York Giants No. 13 Odell Beckham Jr. takes the ball after taking the Dallas Cowboys in the first half at AT & T Stadium on October 19, 2014 in Arlington, Texas . (Photo by Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
Seattle, Washington – November 09: New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. # 13 looks ahead to the Seattle Seahawks match at CenturyLink Field on November 9, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images)
New York, NY – December 1: (L / G) Keke Palmer and Odell Beckham Jr. attend Trey Songz's 30th Anniversary celebration at Lion on December 1, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez / WireImage)
Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants in action during the football match between the San Francisco V Giants V San Francisco and the NFL at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ, USA. November 16, 2014. Photo Tim Clayton (Photo by Tim Clayton / Corbis via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 7: New York Giants # 13 wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. passes the pass as Jason McCourty, No. 30 of the Tennessee Titans, defends in an NFL game at LP Field on December 7, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra / Sports Images / Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 14: Odell Beckham Jr. celebrates his 13th goal of the game against the Washington Redskins in the December 14, 2014 game against the Washington Redskins in his 14th-quarter game in East Rutherford, NJ . (Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 7: Odell Beckham Jr. # 13 in the New York Giants warms up for a game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 7, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. The giants defeated the Titans 36-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – DECEMBER 21: Odell Beckham Jr. celebrates the 13th goal of the New York Giants after scoring a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams in the first quarter at the Edward Jones Dome on December 21, 2014 in St. Louis, NB. Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)
Phoenix, Ariz. – Jan. 31: New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. attends the 2015 NFL Honors at Phoenix Symphony Hall on January 31, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Taylor Hill / Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 15: NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. (R) receives best-selling award from performer Ciara and NBA player Andre Iguodala on stage at the party ESPYS at the Microsoft Theater on July 15, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. . (Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 1: New York Giants No. 13 Odell Beckham Jr. observes the New Orleans Saints game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Giants 52-49. (Photo by Rob Leiter via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 6: New York Giants No. 13 Odell Beckham Jr. celebrates a 72-yard touchdown against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 6, 2015 in East Rutherford, NJ . (Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 2: Soccer players Victor Cruz and Odell Beckham Jr. attend the 12th annual CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Spring Studios on November 2, 2015 in New York. (Photo by Jim Spellman / WireImage)
TORONTO, FEBRUARY 14: Odell Beckham Jr. at the 65th All Star Game at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. February 14, 2016. (Steve Russell / Toronto Star via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 03: New York Giants No. 13 Odell Beckham Jr. takes on the Minnesota Vikings in the match at US Bank Stadium on October 3, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Giants 24-10. (Photo by Joe Robbins / Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 27, 2016: New York Giants No 13 wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. catches a pass before a game against the Cleveland Browns on November 27, 2016, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. # 39; Ohio. New York won 27-13. (Photo: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images / Getty Imges)
CLEVELAND, OH – AUGUST 21, 2017: Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., No. 13 New York Giants, poses for a photo as he shows up on the field before a pre-season game on April 27, 2017 against the Browns Cleveland at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 10-6. (Photo by: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images / Getty Images)
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Given that Beckham played a leading role – and that he was less than a year away from his best-paid NFL failure – the deal had to be approved by Mara and his co-owner Steve Tisch.
As Mara and Tisch told Sunday at a joint press conference, Gettleman called the two men to tell them about the news of the offer. Both had to think before deciding to make an agreement.
"It's not a decision that was made quickly, without much thought and conversation, talking to Dave and [head coach Pat Shurmur] and the impact, what it would mean for the club, "Tisch said. It's a difficult decision. One of the hardest we have had to do in a long time. Many years. "
"It was not easy, that's why it took so long," added Mara. "It took a long time to understand that we had transferred him to another team, I did not think it would happen all winter, I think what we receive in return will make us best if we make the right decisions "
Mara also acknowledged that Beckham's personality and his tendency to make headlines for events not directly related to football played a minor role in the decision.
"I had conversations with him about it, but we never told Dave that he had to get rid of it," Mara said. "That never reached that point." Was it a factor in the final decision? Yes, it's a factor. The problem with it, though, is that it does not he's never done – he's a good guy, he's done good things with us. "
The two owners wished Beckham good luck in Cleveland, but Mara admitted it would be difficult to watch the Giants' first round choice in another uniform.
"It will not be easy, I will not lie to you," said Mara. "It will not be easy – he's a great player and I hope he'll have a great career with the Browns." That makes it a little easier for him to not be in our conference. "
– Media level field
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