Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has officially returned to the New York Giants, in what is shaping up to be an exciting moment for fans who were reminiscing about his impact during his first stint with the franchise. As he is now back on the Giants’ 53-man roster, Beckham has another goal in mind: reclaiming his iconic No. 13 jersey.
That, however, may need some doing, considering Jalin Hyatt currently has his hands on the number. However, Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe knows how Beckham can get his jersey number back.
Shannon Sharpe Reveals How Odell Beckham Jr. Can Get His #13 Giants Jersey Back
Hyatt has worn No. 13 for the New York Giants over the past few seasons. However, he was recently waived by the team before being brought back to the practice squad.
That situation could make the jersey-number discussion much easier for Beckham. Since Hyatt is no longer part of the Giants’ 53-man roster, the two could potentially settle the matter with a simple discussion.
Hyatt’s production also doesn’t quite match what Beckham accomplished while wearing No. 13 in New York. That could give Beckham another argument for reclaiming the jersey that became synonymous with him during his first stint with the Giants.
The topic came up during the latest episode of the “Nightcap” podcast. Co-host Chad Johnson suggested that practice-squad players should be willing to give up a jersey number when a former star associated with that number returns to the team.
Johnson explained that seeing #13 on a Giants uniform immediately reminds him of Beckham and everything the receiver accomplished during his first few seasons in the NFL.
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Meanwhile, Sharpe offered a straightforward solution to OBJ’s problem.
“I would give him (Hyatt) a quick little $5,000,” Sharpe said.
When Johnson jokingly argued that Hyatt shouldn’t be disrespected during the jersey-number debate, Sharpe fired back with an amusing response.
“He disrespected my jersey by getting it,” Sharpe said. “You know you ain’t supposed to get that jersey like that after what I did there the first 3-4 years of my career.”
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Beckham wore No. 3 during the preseason, but that number belongs to linebacker Abdul Carter. Beckham has already made it clear that his preference is to return to No. 13.
“I think we all know what that means to me,” Beckham told reporters on Monday. “There definitely will be some conversations. I’ll just say we’ll see what happens. But, like I said, it would be an honor and a privilege to put that back on.”
There is little doubt that No. 13 carries significant meaning for both Beckham and Giants fans. New York selected Beckham 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he quickly established himself as one of the most electrifying wide receivers of his generation.
Beckham never won a Super Bowl with the Giants, but his first stint in New York was filled with individual accomplishments. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and was named to three Pro Bowls.
