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Sheldon Richardson: Browns’ offense is ‘cooking over there now’ after trade for Odell Beckham Jr.

Veteran defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson believes the Cleveland Browns’ offense is ‘cooking over there now’ after trading for Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Credit: AP
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)

CLEVELAND — New Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson may play on the opposite side of the line of scrimmage, but that does not mean he cannot recognize and have an appreciation for what the offense is doing.

Shortly after agreeing to sign with the Browns, Richardson watched as general manager John Dorsey and the front office pulled off a blockbuster trade with the New York Giants to land Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for first and third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, as well as safety Jabrill Peppers.

“It had nothing to do with the offense or anything like that, and then, they ended up getting Odell and I was like, ‘They are cooking over there now.’ Just like that,” Richardson said in a conference call with the Cleveland media last week.

“That was insane. I did not see that coming at all. Nobody did. Nobody saw that one coming. More pieces to the puzzle. Trying to right the ship. It is just that simple.”

Credit: Bill Kostroun
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham works out prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, December 2, 2018.

Over 59 regular-season games, including 56 starts, in five years with the Giants, Beckham Jr. turned 622 targets into 390 receptions for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. Beckham Jr. averaged 92.8 yards per game, including a league-best 108.8 during the 2014 season.

Beckham Jr. has put four 1,000-yard and three double-digit touchdown seasons on his resume since being selected with a first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University.

Last season, Beckham Jr. turned in a 77-catch, 1,052-yard, six-touchdown effort for the Giants.

Beckham Jr. was a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2014-2016) and two-time Second Team All-Pro honoree (2015-2016) during his five years with the Giants.

“I am not going to sit here and say that we are best of buds or anything like that,” said Richardson, who spent the first four years of his NFL career with the New York Jets.

“Definitely played against him every preseason. Since he touched down in the league, his first two, three years in the league, I definitely played him twice. Played him in the regular season. Great competitor. Cool dude to be around. Have seen him in clubs a few times, nothing major. Other than that, cool dude.”

Credit: Seth Wenig
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Russell Shepard during the second half against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, December 2, 2018.

By adding a talent like Beckham Jr., Dorsey hopes to drive competition within the offense, and that seems to be working already.

“Once I saw it happened, it just makes you want to work harder because that is one of the top and probably one of the best receivers in the game right now,” new tight end Demetrius Harris said in a conference call.

“That just motivates you. I’m going to be his teammate. It is just motivating me to work harder because Dorsey is putting a good team around Mayfield. Cleveland as a whole, the whole city of Cleveland, I’m just excited. Dorsey is doing great things around here, and we are all just ready to get to work.”

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