By Mark Halpern
The Dallas Cowboys are 8-3 on the season and two games behind the Eagles for the NFC East division race. The Cowboys have been doing the work on both sides of the ball. The defense is one of the main reasons the Cowboys are in the spot they are in. That is not saying that the Offense isn’t doing its job. The Offense since Dak has come back from that thumb injury in the first game is ranking near the top of all offensive categories. The question on the table is, does Dallas need to sign Odell Beckham Jr?
It’s hard to say no, as Odell would make any team better for several reasons. The guy is another Diva football player, and the league has had its fair share of names like Terrell Owens, Dez Bryant (who needs to sign a one-day deal and retire as a Cowboy), Amari Cooper, and I can go on and on. However, the guys I just named all have one thing in common: they have all been on the Dallas team and have caused drama regarding how often the ball is thrown to them (sound familiar.) Odell did this throughout his time in Cleveland, and eventually, they had enough and allowed him to leave, and then he went to the Rams, and they won the Super Bowl. Is that all because of Beckham? Well, Yes and no.
On the positive side, everyone knows Odell is a very talented receiver and would command the coverage of a #1 cornerback. This note makes Cowboys fans drool, knowing that Cee Dee Lamb might not have the top corner on him. Cee Dee Lamb is the #1 wide receiver in Dallas and will not give up that moniker even with the signing of Odell, and I believe that Jerry Jones will make that clear. So you have Cee Dee at the #1, and you are bringing on Odell. Does he take the #2 spot? No, that won’t happen, either. Gallup has made it clear he has returned to form after the same injury as Odell (ACL Tear) and is playing at a very high caliber. So Odell would come on to the team, and we would think he is the #3 ahead of James Washington, who will return by the end of the season as neither of them has played a down all season. We know Odell is comfortable being a combo player like Deebo Samuel of the 49ers, and so is Cee Dee. Let’s not forget we have Zeke and Pollard in the backfield, and the combos of offensive plays with these five would be the most dangerous offensive talent in football. I think the way he was used in the Rams offense will be close to what he would be in Dallas, which is the slot-wide receiver. This would give so many options for Dak Prescott, and with the time he is getting from his offensive line, this is a no-brainer of a decision.
Now with every up, there are even more downs, and Odell brings drama baggage. During his time in N.Y., CLE, and LAR, his demands for the ball caused problems in all three teams he has been on. As I said above, T.O. and Dez did that, so Dallas is used to it, but do you want to mess up a good thing? Odell also hasn’t stepped on a field and practiced at all really with any team. So he will need time to acclimate to team life, team practices, and the playbook.
Is it easy to get him 10-12 easy plays to know to get started? Sure, but going to take time to learn it all. Odell has done well when he gets the receptions he wants and is one of the best in the game when fully healthy. We don’t know how healthy he is. This becomes a problem because of the salary he wants. I wouldn’t pay him $20 million to see him in one game, maybe two. However, any team that he is going to will be getting him playoff ready because that is where he is going to make a difference. The hardest thing Odell has to do is get on the same page as Dak because a player like Odell will have no problem calling Dak out for not throwing his way to not having sync with him. Dak doesn’t need this, and neither does the Cowboy organization.
So on one side, I want Odell, and the Cowboys, if they are going to do this, have to get him now and get him ready to play the pivotal game against the Eagles on Christmas Eve this year. Odell could be the difference that makes Dallas win the division if he comes in with a positive attitude. If he comes in the same old Odell, it could ruin the chemistry this talented Cowboys team already has. The Cowboys need another strong receiver, and he is it. If Dallas signs him, I have predicted he will own the most remarkable catch for the Cowboys and the most outstanding catch against them. This decision comes down to Jerry and Stephen, and we will have to deal with whatever decision they make, and that is how the old man sees it.
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