Will the LA Rams throw their hats back into any OBJ bidding wars?
By Bret Stuter
Family feud
The LA Rams organization has a bit of a different culture than many other NFL teams. This is a team that prides itself on its preparedness, its professionalism, and its collection of players who want to play for the LA Rams. In the end, the Rams have had their share of player disputes. But this is a team that does not compel a player to remain on the team. The Rams will trade that player, at times for next to nothing. And if no trade partner is found, the Rams will cut that player outright.
In the end, the team may suffer minor setbacks. But the reputation of this team remains unblemished, as the Rams will only send those players onto the football field who want to wear the horns. That not only goes between team and player but also between players as well.
So, we meet again . . .
When they both played for the Cleveland Browns, the offense found itself not strongly suited for the skillsets of either quarterback Baker Mayfield or wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Of course, that led to frustration throughout the team, fostering a feud between Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. and the eventual release of OBJ. That feud remains unresolved to this day. Is it a matter of let bygones be bygones? I don’t know if that is the case between the two players.
Ironically, both players have ultimately found themselves on the Rams roster, and both players have flourished in the LA Rams offense. As a result, the Rams may no longer have the option to sign Odell Beckham Jr., even should they have an interest in doing so.
Odell Beckham Jr. wants what he feels he deserves, and there is no fault in that. But things have changed for the LA Rams. Right now, this is a team that is no longer trying to find the right icing for the cake. Rather, the LA Rams are looking to bake a new cake.
Sure, the Rams may re-sign OBJ. He is a productive player who has proven his value in the Rams’ offense. But in the end, we may all have to face facts. When the season ends and this team readies for the 2023 NFL season, the window for the Rams and OBJ may already be closing.