Browns’ Odell Beckham Jr.: ‘I’m not going anywhere; It’s just too special to leave’

BEREA, Ohio — Don’t bother trying to come get Odell Beckham Jr., especially if you’re the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He torched all the “come get me’’ reports on Wednesday, vowing that he’s staying put with the Browns next year.

“I’ve been talking to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts, a couple of Canadian League teams that I’m also trying to be traded to, so it’s been great conversations,’’ he quipped at the start of his podium interview Wednesday.

And as for that latest report by NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala to The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima on 92.3 The Fan that Beckham told a Steelers player before the Browns’ 20-13 loss there on Dec. 1, he says: didn’t happen and not happenin’.

“I definitely, for sure ain’t going to the Steelers,’’ he said. “That would never happen, for sure. I seen they were talking about returns to New York and all this other stuff. I don’t know where people are getting this from. So definitely not going back there, either. It is what it is. I’ll be right here.’’

Odell Beckham Jr and now Jarvis Landry ‘come get me’ reports keep coming

In the two weeks since Beckham stood at the podium and admitted he doesn’t know what the future holds and that he can’t endure another season like this, all heck has broken loose with three separate reports that he’s told players and coaches from opposing teams to “come get me’’ from Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, Yahoo! Sports Charles Robinson and Kinkhabwala.

NFL Network’s Michael Silver also reported on Monday that Jarvis Landry was one of multiple Browns player who asked the Cardinals to “come get me’’ at the end of the Browns’ 38-24 loss in Arizona, a report that angered Landry and one that he vehemently denied on Wednesday.

Landry: ‘Don’t slander my name'

Beckham also came forward on Wednesday to stop the madness.

“It’s done. It’s over with,’’ said Beckham. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here. We’re going to figure this thing out. It’s just too special to leave.’’

He noted, “it’s time to just put it to bed. I’m going to be here. There’s nothing more to talk about unless I go to the Argonauts or the Blue Bombers.”

He said the insanity crescendoed over the past two days with the report of Landry and other Browns players propositioning the Cardinals and him the Steelers. With the big rematch against the 12-2 Ravens on Sunday, he had to put his foot down.

“The Steelers, I heard that Jarvis wanted to go to the Cardinals and all these people,’’ he said. “It’s a cop-out I feel like. It’s an easy thing to do and cause a little controversy and a little friction between you and a teammate who doesn’t necessarily know what it is you’re thinking.’’

So while speculation swirls that he wants the hell out, he’s busy putting the finishing touches not only on the house that he bought here, but the one he built for his dog.

“Yeah, we’re going to be here,’’ he said. “We’re going to do it again, and correct all the little mistakes, and all the ‘if we would have did’ this games. It’s just too good. I didn’t buy a house here to sell it. I know people have said ‘I didn’t sign and trade them’ before but I didn’t buy a house here to up and leave it and do renovations on a house and build a dog house.”

He said the fact he bought a house, near his good friend Landry in a suburb not far from the Browns’ facility, speaks to his commitment.

“I didn’t even have a house in New York, so I feel like that says a lot,’’ he said. “I went and trained in Arizona, was out there, I got to New York, never bought a house ‘cause I didn’t know, after 2-3 years what the future was going to hold. I’ve never felt like I had a home since I left college. So I bought a house here for a reason. I called Baker [Mayfield] after I got traded and Jarvis and talked about the future for a reason. So I don’t know if it happened last week, if it’s been this way it just hasn’t been said, but like here it is and put it out on the table for you.’’

He tried not to address the “come get me’’ reports directly, “but that’s when it just got to be too much. Like I said, I’ve really turned the page and I feel just so much better about where I’m at. To kind of see some of the old stuff go back, like I’m just done with it.’’

The Steelers report was kind of the last straw for him, especially because Mike Tomlin yawned when ESPN asked him in the offseason about facing Beckham twice. Beckham confronted Tomlin about that during the 21-7 Browns victory here, telling him he disrespected him.

“I feel like it was starting to get out of hand,’’ Beckham said. “When I come up here and say I don’t know my future, it’s like, ‘oh, well, he didn’t say.’ What did he not say? Stop trying to listen too deeply on the what’s being said and just take the message for what it was. I don’t know the future. God forbid, I don’t if we’re going to be alive next year. Is the world… I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t predict the future. I do predict pretty close to Jarvis’ stats, but that’s about it. ‘’

Speaking of Landry, he’s a main reason Beckham still wants to see this through. They spoke this reunion into existence and aren’t about to tear it asunder.

"Yeah, man, it just doesn't seem right to do this without him, you know?’’ he said. “Being apart from him and kind of taking a step back because we're going through our own things in our lives and not being able to be here, like I told y'all, I'm babysitting every now and then. Just chilling with (Landry’s kids) Joy and little J. So it's just too special to leave. Like I said, I'm just in the process of putting new walls and stuff up in the house, new doghouse and it's just too special of an opportunity."

What makes him think things will get better on a passing game that hasn’t clicked most of the season? What makes him think the Browns will rely more heavily on Landry and Beckham to help them get to the playoffs — which they’ve been clamoring for all season.

“There's so many games where it's like we could be sitting here at 10-6 at the end of the season, 12-4 possibly, 11-5, anything but 6-8 at this moment,’’ he said. “So I'm just excited. You know, not trying to look too far ahead to next year 'cause there's still an opportunity here."

Beckham, a fifth alternate to the Pro Bowl this year, was glad to see Landry voted on for his fifth straight season.

“It's an honor, but he doesn't care,’’ said Beckham. “That's not what he's here for. The Pro Bowl is like a pat on the back for not getting to where you wanted to go this year. He'd rather be in the playoffs playing significant games, and we already talked big plans, how we can make this thing better. But for now, we're focused on Baltimore.

“There's still an opportunity there as crazy as it is. A lot of things have to happen. But the only thing we can focus on is beating Baltimore and worry about whatever happens after."

But for now, anyways, “after’’ appears more likely to include Beckham.