Odell Beckham Jr. excused from Browns practice as his agents, GM Andrew Berry discuss options

BEREA — The agents of Odell Beckham Jr. and Browns General Manager Andrew Berry are discussing options as the wide receiver's future in Cleveland has reached critical condition.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski disclosed Wednesday afternoon in his pre-practice news conference the two sides had engaged in talks amid drama surrounding Beckham.

Asked whether Beckham had requested his release from the Browns, Stefanski said, "That’s something that I think his reps and Andrew would talk through.”

The Browns excused Beckham from Wednesday's practice, Stefanski said, adding he "just felt that was the right thing to do."

Stefanski said he hadn't talked to Beckham in the past 24 hours. Asked whether he reached out, Stefanski said, "I'll keep that between me and him."

Whether OBJ will ever step onto a football field again while wearing a Cleveland uniform is now in serious doubt. All signs are pointing to a split being the most likely outcome.

Stefanski said he would just focus on Wednesday and "deal with everything else as it comes" when he was asked whether Beckham and the Browns could repair the situation.

Stefanski told Browns players in a meeting Wednesday Beckham isn't part of the team right now, per NFL reporter Michael Silver.

Asked about the report, Stefanski said, "I would just tell you today he's excused, and we'll see where this goes."

In their pre-practice injury report, the Browns cited a noninjury-related personal matter for Beckham's absence.

USA Today's Josina Anderson first reported Beckham had been ready to attend practice as he normally would when he was told he'd be excused.

Stefanski said the decision to excuse Beckham was made in the morning before OBJ ever arrived at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea.

Reactions: Social media reactions swift as Browns unexpectedly excuse Odell Beckham Jr. from practice

The development came on the heels of the NFL trade deadline passing at 4 p.m. Tuesday without the Browns dealing Beckham. Stefanski declined to comment on whether the Browns had engaged in OBJ trade talks with the New Orleans Saints during the buildup to the deadline. ESPN's Kimberley Martin reported the two teams had.

Early Tuesday morning, Odell Beckham Sr., the father of the three-time Pro Bowl receiver, shared a video on Instagram highlighting plays on which Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield didn't pass to an open OBJ or missed him because of an off-target throw or miscommunication in Weeks 3-6.

And Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, a close friend of Beckham, tweeted the following just before noon Tuesday: "OBJ will show again why he’s special. WR1 #FreeOBJ."

The social-media activity of Beckham Sr. and James created the strong impression Beckham wants out of Cleveland.

Stefanski said he had no reaction to Beckham's dad's post, which included Beckham Sr. writing "#bigfacts" in response to commenters calling Mayfield "mediocre" and saying OBJ should be paired with "a real QB." As of Wednesday afternoon, the post had not been deleted.

“I would just tell you social media in general, I'm not on it," Stefanski said. "I'm aware of things that are on there. I just think, in general, we talk about ignoring the noise in our building, and certainly there are a lot of things on social media that we need to ignore.”

Stefanski also disputed the notion Mayfield has deliberately refused to throw Beckham the ball at times.

“No, and I'm not going to go down that road," Stefanski said. "I'll just tell you that we work really hard to get guys open, get them the ball, share the ball. Those are always things that we're thinking about.”

Without Beckham on the field as the Browns (4-4) prepared for Sunday's AFC North road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (5-3), there are legitimate questions about whether the Browns will release him.

Beckham is still due $8 million guaranteed of the $15.75 million he's making this year.

If the Browns were to release Beckham, any team could claim him off waivers. However, it wouldn't be realistic for another franchise to claim him because it would be on the hook for the $8 million.

If Beckham were released and cleared waivers, he would become a free agent and able to sign with any team.

Another option would be the Browns keeping Beckham and preventing him from participating in practices and games for the rest of the season.

Beckham, who will turn 29 on Friday, is under contract through the 2023 season, but there is no guaranteed money on his deal in the next two seasons. The writing had been on the wall for this to be his last season with the Browns, even before the proverbial circus music started blaring Tuesday.

Marla Ridenour column: Heavy burden falls on Browns coach Kevin Stefanski to fix OBJ-Baker Mayfield mess

When Stefanski was asked about the locker room possibly being torn apart or distracted by the OBJ fallout, he said the coaching staff has addressed a number of topics with the players and believes they're "laser-focused" on the Bengals.

"We're 4-4," Stefanski said. "We have to get a win. Our lives depend on it, is the way we look at it. We're desperate, and that's where our focus is."

Beckham and five-time Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry are close friends who were teammates at Louisiana State University, but Stefanski said he doesn't fear Landry becoming disgruntled because of Beckham's fate.

“I think Jarvis is a pro," Stefanski said. "I'm not worried about Jarvis.”

Stefanski said he has faith Mayfield is in the right frame of mind to face the Bengals.

More on the Odell Beckham Jr. saga: Baker Mayfield says he's open to working through issues with OBJ: 'I can put my ego and pride to the side to win'

Beckham and Mayfield have never consistently gotten on the same page since the Browns acquired OBJ in March 2019 in a trade with the New York Giants.

The disconnect reached a low point in Sunday's 15-10 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers when Beckham caught one pass on one official target for 6 yards.

In six games this season, Beckham has 17 catches on 34 targets for 232 yards and two carries for 14 yards without scoring a touchdown.

In 29 games with the Browns, Beckham has made 28 starts and compiled 114 catches on 210 targets for 1,586 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with eight carries for 96 yards and a TD.

It's not close to the elite production Beckham had with the Giants, especially when the 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft posted more than 1,300 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of his first three NFL seasons.

Injuries have interfered since then. Beckham has been playing through a grade three sprained AC joint he suffered in his right shoulder Oct. 17 against the Arizona Cardinals, per Anderson. He made his 2021 debut with the Browns in Week 3 after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Oct. 25, 2020, in Cincinnati.

Beckham's return to Paul Brown Stadium would have been a major storyline this week if it weren't for his status with the team becoming a huge question mark.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

Browns at Bengals

Time: 1 p.m. Sunday

TV: CBS

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Odell Beckham Jr. excused from practice as agents, Browns talk future