Odell Beckham Jr. wants to be highest-paid player, 'period'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Odell Beckham Jr. has loftier goals than being the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver -- he wants to be the NFL's highest-paid player.

The New York Giants' star wide receiver made the declaration in a video posted by UNINTERRUPTED on Thursday.

"It's like the elephant in the room, and you don't want to talk about it," Beckham says in the video. "But I've gotten to the point in my life where I'm like, 'No, I'm going to ... there's no need to not talk about it.

"I believe that I will be hopefully not just the highest-paid receiver in the league, but the highest-paid, period."

Beckham worked out on his own this offseason in Los Angeles instead of attending OTAs, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported through sources that Beckham's contract was part of the reason he remained away. He ended his absence when he attended mandatory minicamp last month, and was in attendance Thursday for the start of training camp.

Beckham is to make $1.8 million this season. He is set to make over $10 million this year in endorsements separate from his football income, including $5.8 million from his newly-signed Nike deal.

Next season Beckham is scheduled to be paid $8.459 million in the fifth year of his rookie contract, a figure well below other top wide receivers. Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown recently signed a new deal worth $17 million per season.

The NFL's highest-paid player this season is Joe Flacco at $24.55 million against the salary cap. Nine of the top 10 players on the list are quarterbacks. The highest-paid wide receiver this year is Dallas' Dez Bryant at $17 million.

The Giants and Beckham have not begun negotiations on a new contract. This offseason was the first time the two sides were eligible by rule to talk about an extension.

"They haven't begun as of yet, but ... they'll happen at the appropriate time," owner John Mara said recently in an interview with the New York Post. "I don't think we have a timeframe on it. But we certainly don't want to see him playing in another uniform."

The Giants don't appear to be in any rush. General manager Jerry Reese kept open the possibility that the two sides talk during the season.

"We'll keep all of our options open," Reese said.

Beckham was asked at minicamp last month if he wanted a deal done before the start of this season. He sidestepped the question.

"I couldn't really tell you. Like I said, when the time comes. Any contract questions are really not for me to discuss," Beckham said at the time. "I haven't really talked with anybody about contracts, so it is not something that has been in the air. It kind of was a talk that was brought up amongst other people. It never was really in my discussion, so like I said, just take it a day at a time and when it comes it will come."

In 2016, Beckham finished with over 90 catches, 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns for the third consecutive season. He made another Pro Bowl but performed poorly in his first career playoff game after a boat trip in Miami earlier in the week. Beckham punched a hole in the wall in the bowels of Lambeau Field after that loss.

Reese said after the season that Beckham needed to "grow up" and "look himself in the mirror." He said Thursday the two haven't had a recent discussion, but they could sit down and talk before the start of the season.