EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Odell Beckham Jr. knows the expectations are different in his second stint with the New York Giants.This isn't the OBJ that go off to a historic start to his career with three straight 1,300-plus-yard seasons. Instead, this is the 33-year-old version that seems to know that even a roster spot is not guaranteed and that he's going to have to show enough this spring and summer to make the team."I like it this way," Beckham said Wednesday after his third practice since signing with the Giants. "I feel like it's going to elevate me, bring me up to have to earn it."On the second play of live drills, Beckham was already on the field lined up wide right with the first-team offense and quarterback Jaxson Dart. He dragged across the middle and was open but didn't get the ball. Three plays later, Beckham was targeted deep down the right sideline but couldn't corral the pass as he hit the ground hard along with cornerback Deonte Banks.That he was on the field so quickly can be viewed as a positive. Beckham is part of a jumble of wide receivers that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios, who also signed on Monday. Malik Nabers (knee) and Darius Slayton (core muscle) are sidelined until at least the summer, and Gunner Olszewski (Achilles) was lost for the season."We'll see what happens," new coach John Harbaugh said of the added veterans. "They'll be competing for roles. They'll be competing for their opportunity, just like everybody else. Let's see how it goes."Beckham understands he has to prove himself."Coach and I talked about it," Beckham said. "I think that was one of his fears. He's like, 'I love you so much and have so much respect for you. I don't want to bring you here and have to cut you.'"I was like, 'Listen. I'm going out on my sword either way it goes. If that's what you have to do when you see that I'm not at my best or not fit, then by all means, I'm good with it.' I can't live with sitting at home not doing it. I just couldn't do it. Like I said, it's not who I am."Beckham made his lone catch Wednesday in live drills when he impressively snagged a high and wide throw from backup quarterback Jameis Winston. Smith-Schuster caught three balls during live drills; Berrios two.Beckham said the GPS data and measurements used by the Giants have shown he hasn't slowed down."It's definitely been some time, but they got a lot of measurements and numbers, and I'm still fast, just as fast, faster," Beckham said. "It's just being back in football is different than training. ... It's just good to be back out there."The Giants took Beckham with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. After making the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons, his career was derailed by injury and controversies.This potentially provides extra value to the Giants during his second stint. New York already has a young wide receiver in Nabers who has been injured during the early part of his pro career."I think I can be a great asset for him," Beckham said. "Even when I wasn't here, I was hitting him up and being like, no offense, 'I know how [the media is]. I know how they are. I'm telling you.' Also, he comes from that school [LSU]. We come from the same place. We want to win that bad."Now there is a way to do everything. ... I think when you go through an injury like that, for a minute it hardens you, but then it gives you lots of experience, lots of knowledge and you get to learn a lot about yourself. Through this process, which has been a tough process, I think he comes out on the other end better. I can't wait to see him back on the field. Obviously, we know what kind of player he is, but however I can help him and everybody else, trust me, I know all the things to do and I know the things not to do."Beckham, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019, on Wednesday said several times that he never wanted to leave New York in the first place. He said he remained in touch with owner John Mara and watched the organization from a distance."If I regret anything, it's not winning here and not being the guy that I could have been and allowing things to get in the way of that," Beckham said. "Other than that, I wish that things could've gone differently, but they went exactly as they were supposed to."... Maybe if I stayed here, something worse would have happened. I take it for what it is. Like I said, want to make the most of the opportunity now."
