Odell Beckham Jr. Hates The Patriots For All The Right Reasons
By Matt Dolloff (@mattdolloff)
BOSTON (CBS) -- Here's a question for all non-New England fans: Why do you hate the Patriots?
Is it the most obvious reason, the cheating scandals that were clearly overblown considering Tom Brady and the rest of the team's performance this season? Is it Bill Belichick's propensity to treat his media obligations like he's at a police interrogation without a lawyer? Is it Brady's perceived smugness? Is it Robert Kraft's a-little-too-cozy business relationship with Roger Goodell? Is it perhaps the most petty and irrational reason possible, the fans?
Maybe it's all of the above. But those are only ancillary reasons. There is one overarching reason why all of those particular resentments and animosities exist in the first place: the Patriots are a great team that wins. And they've done it for 15 years, and everyone else is sick of it. Would this level of disdain exist if they were, say, the Cleveland Browns?
The one team, however, that probably doesn't feel that kind of hatred is the New York Giants, who have done unspeakable things to the Patriots and their fans during Brady & Belichick's run. But they do hate them for the right reason, because they're a winning franchise that has pushed around just about every other team for over a decade.
Superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr. talked about his "love-hate" relationship with the Pats with Newsday on Thursday, and while his comments sound like obvious bulletin-board material, he actually means that as a compliment.
"I've loved-hated the Patriots for a long time," said Beckham. "I respect everything that they've done and everything they do year in and year out as far as being one of the top teams in the league. They get the job done, they win championships. But on the other end, they've beaten all the teams that I like."
Beckham Jr. did acknowledge the Patriots' scandals and scrutiny off the field, but it has only made him respect the team more with the way Brady & Co. continue to play well when they have the entire world against them.
"You hate them because nobody was really beating them and you love them because no matter what they go through, even what they've gone through this year to see how they've come out, they play football," he said. "There's something about it I admire. But it's still one of my least-favorite favorite teams of all time."
This is actually a refreshing departure from the usual bulletin-board material for the Patriots. Beckham hates the Patriots because they win a lot and have beaten a lot of teams that he rooted for in the past. It's a respectful form of hate. He just wants to be the one to beat them, and he's certainly wearing the right uniform for that.
The best part about this is that Beckham is actually a good player, and will draw significant attention from the Patriots secondary on Sunday (I'm thinking simply Malcolm Butler one-on-one with safety help from Devin McCourty over the top, at a minimum). If the Giants want to keep up with what Brady is going to do to their soft defense, they will need Beckham to make big plays - and unlike so many other Pats trash-talkers in the past, he has a good chance to back it up.
Dolphins linebacker Chris McCain is fresh in your mind, and you certainly remember what Brady did to Steelers corner Anthony "I Can Guarantee A Win" Smith in 2007 and what Rodney Harrison did to nobody Eagles receiver Freddie Mitchell in 2004. Going at the Patriots with your mouth usually isn't a good idea, but this time the words are coming from a Pro-Bowler.
The truth is, I worry about what Beckham and Eli Manning could do to the Patriots defense on Sunday, especially with Jamie Collins out again. But at least Beckham is speaking from a position of respect for the Patriots and frustration over their dominance, rather than misplaced hatred over other silly things like Terrell Suggs just hating Brady's stupid face.
The respect is mutual, as Belichick gushed about Beckham's skills and toughness. But by association, he is one of Beckham's least favorite coaches of all time. Still, at least it's because Belichick is so good and not because of...other things.
Beckham hates the Patriots for the only reason anyone hates them. You may not like his harsh-on-paper-but-complimentary-in-context remarks, but at least it's a good player sating it for once. Let's see if his hatred translates to touchdowns on Sunday.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.