Odell Beckham Jr. sends message that should ease popular concern from Miami Dolphins fans

"Feel the tension, soon as someone mentions me," raps Marshall Matters (Eminem) in his famous Without Me record. I think of that line every time Odell Beckham Jr. is discussed by NFL fans, including those of the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2024 season after the front office signed him earlier in May.

After all, OBJ has been controversial everywhere he's gone to. People still disagree if it was he who deserved the label of a diva at New York and later Cleveland. His sideline tantrums, one of which went viral because of his hit on the kicking net (and the net striking back), and interactions with teammates and family of teammates (shoutout Baker Mayfield's dad) have put him at the center of controversy time and time again.

However, listening to Beckham Jr. should quickly erase all those concerns from the minds of Dolphins fans.

At 31 years old, he openly understands he's not in Miami to steal the spotlight from anybody. 

"For me at this place in my life and my career, I haven’t been the number one in a minute," Beckham candidly admitted to reporters on Wednesday. "You could go look at targets, you could go look at anything, that’s not really where I’ve been at. So just understanding your role and how can you be the very best at that role, maximize those opportunities. Don’t look for more or less, just stay within that present moment and I think you’ll find a way to succeed.”

Although injuries have played a part in that, OBJ hasn't crossed the 600 receiving yard-mark since 2020 when he went for 1,305 yards with the Cleveland Browns, his fifth 1,000-yard season in six years in the NFL back then.