John Mara is just as wrong for throwing Odell Beckham Jr. under the bus Tuesday as Beckham was for throwing Eli Manning under the bus nearly two weeks ago. Two wrongs don’t make a right, and it’s time the co-owner and the mercurial receiver get on the same page before things get worse for the Giants.

Mara took a shot at Beckham for his divisive interview with ESPN, which aired Oct. 7. Beckham was critical of Manning and the offensive play-calling of new head coach Pat Shurmur during the interview taped alongside rapper Lil Wayne. In his first comments on the matter, Mara told reporters at the NFL owners’ meeting that Beckham should “do a little more playing and a little less talking.”

The admonishment might be applauded in some circles, but the timing is terrible. It not only reignited the controversy surrounding Beckham’s criticism of Manning and the new head coach, but alienated Beckham when the Giants are reeling from three straight losses and everyone is looking for a scapegoat.

Perhaps the most troubling statement Mara uttered during the five-minute interview session in Manhattan was that he hadn’t spoken to Beckham since the interview aired before a 33-31 loss at Carolina. “I think enough people have spoken to him,” Mara said.

Part of Mara’s appeal is his passion for the team he inherited from his father and grandfather, which is why you can believe him when he admits to being “embarrassed” at the Giants’ 1-5 record and is “suffering just as much as our fans are, probably more.”

But he’s making a mistake by distancing himself from Beckham now after making him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. If Mara thought the $95 million he and Steve Tisch gave Beckham was hush money, he should have known better. Beckham is always going to be a social icon appealing to athletes, celebrities and fans young and old. He is a walking brand. Whatever Beckham says and does will go viral. Imagine Lawrence Taylor on Instagram.

The Giants knew this when they decided to sign Beckham to a multi-year extension. They invested in not only his talent, but everything that comes with Beckham. More uncomfortable moments are sure to follow. History will be repeated.

But the public reprimand from Mara on Tuesday was unnecessary given the fact Shurmur addressed it more than a week ago by having Beckham speak to the team. Beckham also addressed the media and the hope was the Giants would galvanize for a positive showing against the Eagles last Thursday night. Instead, they fell flat, losing 34-13. Now was not the time for the owner to revisit Beckham’s sit-down with Lil Wayne.

Also, “more playing, less talking” sounds too much like “Shut up and play.” That doesn’t sit well with today’s socially aware and financially secure athletes. It insults their intelligence and widens an apparent disconnect. Whether it’s publicly criticizing police practices and politicians or quarterbacks and coaches, athletes have their own opinions and the mediums to voice to them.

What the Giants need is for Mara and Beckham to get on the same page. There should be more communication between owner and player, not less. Shurmur shouldn’t be left to deal with Beckham alone. Once the ESPN interview aired, Mara should have been among the first on the phone to hear why Beckham said he was unhappy with the quarterback, the offense and living in New York.

The Giants just invested $95 million in Beckham, but the money apparently isn’t enough to make him happy? If there are issues, then Mara should want to know what they are.

You understand Mara for getting fed up with the endless drama Beckham creates. In March, the owner admitted to being “tired of answering questions about Odell’s behavior,” after a compromising video of Beckham in Paris surfaced.

But in today’s world of pro sports, smart owners have strong relationships with the team’s highest-profile player: Bob Kraft and Tom Brady, to name one. Mara seemingly had that with Manning. Now he must develop one with Beckham. They have 95 million reasons to make it work.