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Odell Beckham Jr. ditched blond locks to signify fresh start with Cleveland Browns

Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is hopeful that his tenure with the Cleveland Browns will be a fresh start to his NFL career.

CLEVELAND — Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. felt a change in scenery was necessary after five years with the New York Giants, and following the 2018 season, he got his wish in the form of a trade to the Cleveland Browns.

By teaming up with his long-time friend, Jarvis Landry, quarterback Baker Mayfield and a talented corps of pass catchers and running backs, Beckham Jr. very much is looking forward to the start of the season, one in which he hopes is a fresh start to his NFL career.

To signify that change, Beckham Jr. dumped his famous flowing blond hair ahead of the beginning of training camp.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with the hair, but I just wanted a fresh start,” Beckham Jr. said at his football camp at Strongsville High School Tuesday.

“I feel a little lighter. Honestly, it was just a fresh start, just kind of, ‘you’re not identified by anything,’ and I’m just comfortable with who I am. We’ll see what happens. There might be some blond going back in there. There’s a lot of kids who want it, so I guess if it’s requested, I might have to go back to it.”

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Since the Browns acquired Beckham Jr. in a trade with the New York Giants in mid-March, there has been plenty of predictions of long postseason runs, something that seemed like only a dream during a 1-31 stretch that featured an 0-16 record in 2017.

With Mayfield and running back Nick Chubb emerging as playmakers, Landry continuing to be a reliable target and the addition of Beckham Jr., several national media outlets have the Browns breaking what is the NFL’s longest-standing playoff drought.

“I’m excited to be a part of the excitement,” Beckham Jr. said.

“I’ve watched from afar the struggles, where they didn’t win a game the one year, won one game and went to 7-9. It’s just been on the come-up. It’s just that time and I just want to be able to give absolutely everything I have and see where we land with that.

“Try not to look too far ahead. I feel like in the past, I’ve always come in and been like, ‘I want to win Super Bowls.’ Obviously, that’s the goal. That’s the only reason to do this, but really, just want to slow it down this time, take it day by day, week by week and just see where we end up.”

Credit: Matt Florjancic
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) strides down the field against rookie defensive back Greedy Williams (26) during a drill on the first day of mandatory minicamp at team headquarters in Berea on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

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Beckham Jr. is hoping that a solid 2019 season in Cleveland will help in putting behind him his past with the Giants.

“I’m really ready to put it all behind me,” Beckham Jr. said. “I think everybody’s moved on. I’ve moved on. They’ve moved on. It’s just time. This is where I’m at. I’m at the Cleveland Browns now. This is my team and I’m excited about that.”

In order to accomplish that goal of moving on, Beckham Jr. was one of several people in attendance at the private workouts held by Mayfield and other veteran players in Los Angeles earlier this month.

“It went great,” Beckham Jr. said. “Baker’s ready to sling it and we’re ready to win some games.”

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