Major Franchise Pulls Out of Odell Beckham Jr Negotiations; Coach Says ‘We Don’t Need OBJ’

Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of three teams chasing Odell Beckham Jr. The wide receiver has finished his term at Cleveland Browns and pushed for a mid-season exit. Tampa Bay’s withdrawal puts two franchises- New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints in the driver’s seat for his signature. But why did the Buccaneers pull out?

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians does not want Odell Beckham Jr

Bringing Odell Beckham Jr would’ve reinforced an already brilliant Tampa Bay Buccaneers side. With Tom Brady having another excellent target to throw to, the Buccaneers would look unstoppable. However, they already have two of the best wide receivers in the league. Antonio Brown and Mike Evans have been phenomenal right from the start of the season.

Although he’s dealing with an injury, Antonio Brown continues to be a big part of Tampa Bay’s plans for the rest of the season. With more than half the season left to go, and a playoff berth nearly confirmed, AB is going to play a massive role in taking the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl.

These words from Bruce Arians proved how confident the coach is in his athlete. When asked if the Bucs still wanted OBJ, Arians said, “No. We’ve already got AB, we don’t need OBJ. Too many letters.” Is it really just a matter of too many letters, or does Arians not want to diminish AB’s confidence. Signing another wide receiver would only make intra-team competition more, giving rise to rifts.

This means Odell Beckham Jr is now off Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ radar. It all comes down to which franchise agrees to fill up their cap space with OBJ’s wages, and have him rip down the field to score some valuable points. If his last season at Cleveland Browns is any reflection of his form, then whoever gets OBJ will have to ensure he delivers to the fullest.

Antonio Brown injury update

Antonio Brown has missed the last game for the Buccaneers, beginning with a loss to New Orleans. The former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver suffered an injury during training; twisting his ankle and almost putting an end to his season.

A couple days ago, fans spotted Antonio Brown on a cycle, taking a spin around Tampa Bay. While it gave fans a little reassurance regarding his health, it did not paint the entire picture. Just a few days before the cycling photo emerged, Brown was photographed on Buccaneers’ training facility with crutches.

Now, Bruce Arians confirmed Brown would not return to action soon and is still in a walking boot. This is troubling news for fans, especially with Arians dismissing any interest in OBJ. Brown and Odell haven’t been on the same level this year, but having a temporary replacement for Brown wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.

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