Cleveland Browns' Odell Beckham Jr. on trade: Giants 'thought they'd send me here to die'

Odell Beckham Jr. has made it clear this offseason that he has plenty of hard feelings for the New York Giants after they traded him to the Cleveland Browns in March. 

While Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has long maintained the deal was business-related and had nothing to do with Beckham Jr.'s personality. It's suffice to stay the star wideout feels differently. 

"This wasn’t no business move,” he told Sports Illustrated recently. "This was personal. They thought they’d send me here to die."

Beckham Jr., whom the Giants selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft and signed to a five-year, $95 million extension the summer before shipping him to the Browns, claimed that New York had better offers for a trade but still selected Cleveland. In exchange for Beckham, the Giants received safety Jabrill Peppers as well as first- and second-round picks.

Giants coach Pat Shurmur shot down the concern when asked about the remarks by Beckham and Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, who in a GQ article said he was stunned by the Giants' pick of quarterback Daniel Jones.

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"Quite frankly, on our list of issues of the day, it really doesn't matter what Odell or Baker say," Shurmur said.

Of course, this isn't the first time Beckham Jr. has spoken out against the Giants this summer. He told GQ last month that he "felt disrespected" by the trade. His latest comments add another biting layer to his publicized feelings toward the team. In April, Beckham Jr. ripped Gettleman on Twitter after the GM said the Giants didn't have a culture problem anymore. 

The idea of Cleveland as a football wasteland is certainly a premise that could be challenged as the 2019 season begins. Mayfield, who has dinged the Giants fan base and brain trust in separate comments this offseason, is one of the game's bright stars. 

In addition, the chance to play in Cleveland allows Beckham Jr. to reunite with former LSU teammate and old pal Jarvis Landry. The trio, along with first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens, make the Browns a popular pick to contend in the AFC North as the team seeks its first winning season since 2007.