Odell Beckham\u2019s final target with the Browns was a pass thrown to him late, high and out of his reach.<\/p>\n
He tried catching it with one hand.<\/p>\n
Another incompletion, and like OBJ's time with Cleveland, a failure.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Out of patience with Beckham's antics and attitude, the Browns on Friday said they're releasing the polarisng star wide receiver, whose arrival 2 1\/2 years ago triggered a celebration and spawned wild expectations never met.<\/p>\n
Beckham\u2019s unceremonious exit \u2014 still not official \u2014 came on his 29th birthday and days after his father shared an 11-minute video on social media highlighting plays on which Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't throw him the ball.<\/p>\n
Beckham was excused from two days of practice while his agents tried to work out an amicable parting with general manager Andrew Berry as the Browns (4-4) were preparing to play a critical game on Sunday in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrownsByBrad\/status\/1455531689678184454<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis really is not about the video,\u201d Berry said a few hours after the Browns announced the breakup. \u201cIt's really about a series of discussions, certainly over the last week but even spanning back longer than that.\u201d<\/p>\n Beckham wanted out of Cleveland almost from the time he was acquired in a 2019 blockbuster trade from the New York Giants. He asked to be traded several times, and now has his wish. Sort of.<\/p>\n It was supposed to be so different. The Browns thought Beckham could be the final piece, the game-changing playmaker for Mayfield, capable of transforming the offense and leading Cleveland to Super Bowls. Instead, Beckham was injured, frustrated and mostly used as a decoy.<\/p>\n "I don\u2019t think anyone envisioned when the organisation traded for Odell three years ago that this would really be the resolution,\u201d said Berry, who inherited Beckham after former GM John Dorsey pulled off the trade.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate, but at the same time there are some situations in the NFL where things just don\u2019t quite work out.\u201d<\/p>\n The Browns didn't appreciate the video or that Beckham never reached out to Mayfield or coach Kevin Stefanski, who often praised his work ethic in an arduous recovery from knee surgery.<\/p>\n Berry did speak with Beckham, but didn't disclose the nature of their conversations.<\/p>\n Once the sides finalise financial terms \u2014 Beckham is owed $8 million this season \u2014 Beckham will be waived and can be claimed by any team with enough salary-cap space. If he clears the waiver wire, which probably won't happen until early next week, he'll be a free agent and can sign anywhere.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Test front-rower pulls off contract backflip<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Tigers great shreds embattled club's biggest fear<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n It's possible Beckham could stay in the AFC or wind up in Cleveland's division. That might worry some fans, but Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett isn't concerned.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might happen. I\u2019m not scared of it,\u201d Garrett said. \u201cThere\u2019s great receivers everywhere that we have to worry about, and if he goes to another good receiving corps, then we have to step up and prepare for it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know what he can do. We see it on the practice field all the time. No need to worry about the possibility, Twitter\u2019s going to make up enough stories.\u201d<\/p>\n Garrett was shocked by the speed of Beckham's departure.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was quicker than anyone expected,\u201d Garrett said. "I wish we got a little bit more communication between upper management and the players, a little bit more knowledge of what was going on because it seemed just like it happened overnight.<\/p>\n \u201cThings just like kind of snowballed."<\/p>\n Now that Beckham's gone, the Browns can put their full attention on the Bengals (5-3). Coincidentally, it was at Cincinnati in Week 7 last season when Beckham suffered a season-ending knee injury and Mayfield threw five touchdown passes.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> De Goey breaks silence over New York arrest<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n