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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. –** If Odell Beckham Jr. were to launch a campaign to try to win the Rookie of the Year Award, Antrel Rolle would be the perfect person to manage it. Rolle believes unequivocally that Beckham should be the honoree.
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"There is no doubt about it, no doubt about it," Rolle said. "There have been some rookies out there obviously making some splash. (Tampa Bay's) Mike Evans, a couple other names. But what Odell Beckham Jr. has done in the short period of time that he has been out there, because he battled from injuries at the beginning of the year, the sky is the limit for this guy. I think what he has done for this team and for the league itself has been phenomenal. I am not just saying that because he is my teammate, I am saying it because, outside looking in, I am sure everyone else sees it the same way. Absolutely, there is no doubt about it. Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl, you name it, I definitely put him up there right now with the elite receivers in this league. He is a threat."
Because of a lingering hamstring injury, Beckham didn't make his debut until Week 5 vs. Atlanta. In his first three games, he totaled 10 catches for 106 yards – but he did score three touchdowns. Since then, he has averaged 8.7 catches and 123.7 yards a game and set an NFL rookie record with seven consecutive games with at least 90 receiving yards.
With two games remaining, he shares the lead among all rookies with 71 receptions (tied with Miami's Jarvis Landry) and is tops with 972 yards and nine touchdowns. At the beginning of November, that kind of breakout season seemed unlikely at best.
"You never discredit anything; you never know what is possible," Rolle said. "Outside looking in, if you would've taken any other guy and say he will come back whatever week he came back and do what he's done in such a short period of time, I don't think no one would've said he would make that splash that he's done. I am happy that he did. He is a teammate, he is a phenomenal player and his future is only going to get better. The more time goes on and the game goes on more, he is going to draw a lot more attention to himself on the field. They are going to try to find ways to double him. Knowing our guys and our offensive scheme and the mentality that they have, they will find a way to get him the ball. They double him, then we have other weapons that can also contribute and make a lot of plays."
- Eli Manning, who has thrown each of the 71 passes that Beckham has caught, was characteristically less effusive when asked if his teammate should be Rookie of the Year.
"I haven't seen all the other performances, so I am probably not qualified to give that answer," Manning said. "He has played very strong and played well for us. He definitely should be in contention, I would think.
"He has played at a high level. He has gotten stronger every game and playing his best football as of late. He has done a good job learning the offense and picking things up quickly and being committed and going out there and producing on Sundays."
- The Giants, who are preparing to face the Rams Sunday in St. Louis, had only two players on their injury report today, and neither practiced: running back Rashad Jennings (ankle) and linebacker Jameel McClain (knee). McClain has taken Wednesdays off for several weeks, but has not missed a game.
- The Rams have just one player on their injury list, center Scott Wells. His absence from practice was not injury related.
Check out the best photos from Wednesday's practice, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery
