Ravens HC compares addition of OBJ to that of Terrell Owens joining Eagles
Although he hasn’t played since February 2022, Odell Beckham Jr.’s arrival at Ravens minicamp gave off Terrell Owens-like vibes, according to head coach John Harbaugh.
A special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 when that franchise acquired Owens from the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh saw firsthand the kind of excitement a high-profile receiver can generate during spring practice — much like the hype that surrounded Beckham Jr. during Tuesday’s minicamp.
"We had [Owens] in Philadelphia; he came in -- all the hype and all the things from a personality standpoint -- [and] nobody worked harder at practice, nobody worked harder in the weight room," Harbaugh told reporters. "…Those kinds of guys reach that level for a reason and [Beckham Jr.] is in a place in his career where I feel like he has a lot to prove, at this point and I think he feels like he's going to be the healthiest he's been in a few years.”
Much like Owens did when he arrived in Philly, Beckham Jr. has the skins on the wall. A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro, Beckham Jr. logged five 1,000-yard seasons in his first eight years in the NFL, topping the 70-reception mark five times and recording double-digit touchdowns three times.
The 30-year-old wideout was brought to Baltimore to add an element the Ravens' passing game had been lacking — a true game-breaking, big-play threat. And so far, Beckham Jr. is saying and doing all the right things. Harbaugh raved about Beckham Jr.’s reputation as a player who holds himself accountable, suggesting he is the kind of player who could ignite a fire in the rest of the Ravens WR room.
"I love the guy; he's a pro,” Harbaugh said. “He's what you would expect from a world-class athlete. He's a highly competitive guy. He wants to play at the highest level, on only the highest level.”
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