BEREA, Ohio — The showdown is finally here.
Odell Beckham Jr. and Jamal Adams have called LSU and New York their homes over parts of the past nine years but have never taken the field together. That will change Monday night when Beckham’s Browns and Adams’ Jets face off at MetLife Stadium.
“I’m excited,” Beckham said. “I’m sure when the [ball] snaps, he’s not going to be as friendly, but that’s my little bro. That’s my brother. We both wore 33 [at LSU]. When we was in New York, we went to eat. That’s my guy, through and through. He’s a phenomenal player.”
The talented and entertaining duo first met when Beckham hosted Adams on a recruiting visit to LSU, but they never got to play together. Beckham was drafted by the Giants in 2014 and later that year, Adams arrived on campus for his freshman year.
Beckham did not play in either of the Giants’ preseason games against the Jets after Adams was drafted in 2017. But Monday, they will put their friendship aside for a night as Adams patrols the secondary from his spot at safety and tries to limit Beckham’s anticipated return to East Rutherford.
“Everybody knows if he’s not the best, he’s [one of] the best receivers in the game. I’m excited to play him for the first time,” Adams said. “That’s one of my good friends and obviously a brother. We’re excited to compete out there. There’s no friends on the field. He obviously knows that. On the field, it’s ‘go’ time.”
Beckham said he might reach out to Adams if he needs an extra ticket and expects to talk to him before the game. But there is one topic they may want to avoid. Beckham this week ripped Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for coaching dirty hits, of which he believes he was a victim, and made it clear there is no love lost. But Adams defended Williams, tweeting out “I luv you, coach! Got your back!”
Pregame drama aside, Beckham and Adams are ready for the show.
“I’ve seen that since the day he walked into LSU: his charisma, the way he carries himself on the field, plays with a lot of energy and he’s elite,” Beckham said. “It’s exciting to be able to go up against him. I literally watched him from LSU to where he’s at now. It’s pretty impressive what he’s done.”
Additional reporting by Zach Braziller.
