New Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr.'s goal is to hang banners with the franchise.
Beckham made his goal known to ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates on June 5.
Odell Beckham, Jr.: "I'm beyond excited about an opportunity I have to start over. Obviously the goal is always going to be the same: to hang banners."
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 5, 2019
According to ESPN's Jake Trotter, Beckham has exceeded expectations after his second minicamp practice with the Browns on Wednesday. Beckham emphasized to Trotter he'd rather play in the postseason than rack up statistics during the regular season.
This game is about winning. I'd rather much be in the playoffs than go for 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns, because I'm supposed to do that anyway. I'm ready to get back to the playoffs and show what I can do.
Cleveland hasn't tasted postseason football since the 2002 NFL season. Moreover, the city hasn't won a pro football championship since 1964. The new-look Browns figure to end those droughts in 2019.
If there's one thing Browns fans can look forward to it's the on-field connection between Beckham and quarterback Baker Mayfield. Beckham told Trotter he's “watched Baker since Oklahoma.” He loves Mayfield's confidence.
"Goal's always going to be the same: Hang banners."@OBJ wants rings in Cleveland. 💍 pic.twitter.com/asxZMEphhE
— NFL (@NFL) June 5, 2019
Moreover, Beckham is impressed with Mayfield's arm.
“He's throwing the ball hard,” he told ESPN. “Just catching him from the first day, it was like, ‘Wow, this is completely different.'”
The Browns also feature the likes of Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway, Kareem Hunt, David Njoku, Denzel Ward, and Greedy Williams. On paper, it seems this team is ready to make noise in the AFC North.
Who knows? One day, Odell Beckham, Jr. and the Cleveland Browns could hang banners in Northeast Ohio, just like he envisioned.