Odell Beckham Jr. clears waivers; Browns could see him again on Christmas in Green Bay
Marla Ridenour, Akron Beacon Journal
OBJ is now truly free.
Former Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s wish was granted Tuesday, as NFL Network reported he made it through waivers unclaimed, allowing him to choose his team in free agency.
A Christmas Day matchup with the Browns is not out of the question, according to a report.
Beckham, 29, was waived Monday after a week of turmoil that resulted in an agreement on Friday to part ways. Terms of the settlement the Browns and Beckham signed Saturday made it unlikely he would be claimed.
The claiming team would have owed Beckham $7.25 million this season and with the final two non-guaranteed years wiped off his contract, he would become a free agent in March.
Passing through waivers means the Browns will pay Beckham $4.25 million.
When the situation blew up on Tuesday when Odell Beckham Sr. posted a video on Instagram of the times his son was open and quarterback Baker Mayfield didn’t get him the ball, Beckham was owed $8 million by the Browns. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James quickly supported his friend Beckham with a #FreeOBJ tweet.
Beckham has made the Green Bay Packers his preferred destination, Jordan Schultz of the Schultz Report tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
The Browns visit Green Bay on Dec. 25 for a 4:30 p.m. game.
Beckham wants to play for a contender and the Packers, 7-2 and tied for the second-most victories in the NFL, fit that scenario, especially with Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm. The Packers’ top receivers are Davante Adams (58 catches, 786 yards, three touchdowns), Randall Cobb (20-244-4) and Allen Lazard (16-204-3), with running back Aaron Jones (33-237-4) and tight end Allen Lazard (16-204-3) Rodgers’ other top targets.
Citing league sources, USA Today’s Josina Anderson reported that Beckham will take some time and assess the best situation for him, with several options still on the table.
On Sunday, Mike Jones of USA Today reported that the Seattle Seahawks had shown strong interest in Beckham and coach Pete Carroll did not refute that Monday. Asked if Seattle would claim Beckham, Carroll said, “So, I didn’t say yes or I didn’t say no. That’s just cause … you’ll see,” according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
Seattle could be interested in signing Beckham as a free agent. Other possible destinations are the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints, Mike Florio said Sunday on NBC’s “Football Night in America.”
Waiver claims go in reverse order with the worst record first, giving the Detroit Lions (0-8) the initial chance at Beckham. Former Browns general manager John Dorsey, who pulled off the blockbuster March 2019 trade with the New York Giants for Beckham, is a senior personnel executive for the Lions. But when asked if the Lions were interested, coach Dan Campbell shot that down Monday with an “Um, no.”
In 29 games (28 starts) over three seasons with the Browns, Beckham totaled 114 catches on 210 targets for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns. He also recorded eight carries for 96 yards and a touchdown.
A league source said Beckham had asked the Browns to trade him multiple times in the offseason and again after a 15-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that game on Halloween, Beckham had one official target for 6 yards.
The trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. on Nov. 2 without a deal because of Beckham’s high salary and the fact that he’s undergone three surgeries in the previous four years.
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Patrick Smith
Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After 14 seasons with the Colts, Manning finished his career with the Broncos.
Manning played on two Super Bowl-winning teams, was a five-time MVP and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection. Manning earned Super Bowl MVP honors when the Colts won Super Bowl XLI. Manning threw for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns overall during his 17-year career.
Patrick Smith
Former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After 14 seasons with the Colts, Manning finished his career with the Broncos.
Manning played on two Super Bowl-winning teams, was a five-time MVP and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection. Manning earned Super Bowl MVP honors when the Colts won Super Bowl XLI. Manning threw for 71,940 yards and 539 touchdowns overall during his 17-year career.
New video appears to show Jaguars coach Urban Meyer touch a woman’s backside at Ohio bar
Doug Pensinger
Former Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson was also in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Woodson played 18 seasons between the Raiders and Packers.
Woodson was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl ring with the Packers in 2011. The defensive back finished his career with 65 interceptions, 33 forced fumbles and 20 sacks.
Doug Pensinger
Former Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson was also in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Woodson played 18 seasons between the Raiders and Packers.
Woodson was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and won a Super Bowl ring with the Packers in 2011. The defensive back finished his career with 65 interceptions, 33 forced fumbles and 20 sacks.
New video appears to show Jaguars coach Urban Meyer touch a woman’s backside at Ohio bar
Leon Halip
Former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson was in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Johnson played nine seasons with the Lions before suddenly retiring at the age of 30. At 35 years old, Johnson will be the third player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at age 35 or younger.
Despite his successful career, Johnson only played in two postseason games. Johnson finished his career as the Lions' leader in receptions (731), yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83).
Leon Halip
Former Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson was in his first year of eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Johnson played nine seasons with the Lions before suddenly retiring at the age of 30. At 35 years old, Johnson will be the third player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at age 35 or younger.
Despite his successful career, Johnson only played in two postseason games. Johnson finished his career as the Lions' leader in receptions (731), yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83).
New video appears to show Jaguars coach Urban Meyer touch a woman’s backside at Ohio bar
Ezra Shaw
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos defensive back John Lynch had been a finalist eight times before his enshrinement for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After 11 seasons with the Buccaneers, Lynch finished the last four years of his career with the Broncos.
Lynch was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and helped the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl title in 2003. Lynch finished his career with eight seasons of 80 tackles or more.
Ezra Shaw
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos defensive back John Lynch had been a finalist eight times before his enshrinement for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After 11 seasons with the Buccaneers, Lynch finished the last four years of his career with the Broncos.
Lynch was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and helped the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl title in 2003. Lynch finished his career with eight seasons of 80 tackles or more.
New video appears to show Jaguars coach Urban Meyer touch a woman’s backside at Ohio bar
Nick Laham
Former offensive lineman Alan Faneca was a finalist five times before being selected as a member of the 2021 class. Faneca played 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, two with the New York Jets and one with the Arizona Cardinals.
Faneca helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl in 2006. Faneca was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and missed just one game throughout his career.
Nick Laham
Former offensive lineman Alan Faneca was a finalist five times before being selected as a member of the 2021 class. Faneca played 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, two with the New York Jets and one with the Arizona Cardinals.
Faneca helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl in 2006. Faneca was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and missed just one game throughout his career.
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Focus On Sport
Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson was elected as a senior inductee after waiting 37 years since he retired from the NFL. Pearson played 11 seasons with the Cowboys before his career ended early due to a liver injury from a car accident.
Pearson was a first-team selection to the All-Decade team of the 1970s and helped the Cowboys win a Super Bowl in 1978. Pearson finished his career with 489 catches, 7,822 receiving yards and 48 touchdowns.
Focus On Sport
Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson was elected as a senior inductee after waiting 37 years since he retired from the NFL. Pearson played 11 seasons with the Cowboys before his career ended early due to a liver injury from a car accident.
Pearson was a first-team selection to the All-Decade team of the 1970s and helped the Cowboys win a Super Bowl in 1978. Pearson finished his career with 489 catches, 7,822 receiving yards and 48 touchdowns.
New video appears to show Jaguars coach Urban Meyer touch a woman’s backside at Ohio bar
Bernstein Associates
Former Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks head coach Tom Flores was elected as the only coach finalist on the ballot this year. Flores also played nine seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1970.
Flores is one of two Hall of Famers to win a Super Bowl as a player and coach. Flores is the first Hispanic quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the first minority head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. Flores went 97-87 as a NFL head coach and won two Super Bowls with the Raiders in 1981 and 1984.
Bernstein Associates
Former Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks head coach Tom Flores was elected as the only coach finalist on the ballot this year. Flores also played nine seasons in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1970.
Flores is one of two Hall of Famers to win a Super Bowl as a player and coach. Flores is the first Hispanic quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the first minority head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. Flores went 97-87 as a NFL head coach and won two Super Bowls with the Raiders in 1981 and 1984.
New video appears to show Jaguars coach Urban Meyer touch a woman’s backside at Ohio bar
George Gojkovich
Former Pittsburgh Steelers scout and personnel executive Bill Nunn was enshrined in the contributor category of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nunn worked within the Steelers organization from 1968 until he died in 2014.
As a scout, Nunn contributed to six Super Bowl-winning teams that spanned more than 35 years in the NFL.
George Gojkovich
Former Pittsburgh Steelers scout and personnel executive Bill Nunn was enshrined in the contributor category of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nunn worked within the Steelers organization from 1968 until he died in 2014.
As a scout, Nunn contributed to six Super Bowl-winning teams that spanned more than 35 years in the NFL.
Odell Beckham Jr. clears waivers; Browns could see him again on Christmas in Green Bay
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America/TNS
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. walks off the field after the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 29, 2021, in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/TNS)
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America/TNS
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. walks off the field after the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 29, 2021, in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/TNS)
