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New York Giants to Odell Beckham Jr: "Grow up"

By Alex Butler

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Jan. 10 (UPI) -- General Manager Jerry Reese and the New York Giants are sick of Odell Beckham Jr.'s antics.

At least, as sick as they can be when it comes to one of the top talents in the NFL.

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On Monday, Reese told reporters at his end of season press conference that it's time for the second-team All-Pro wide receiver to mature.

"We all have had to grow up at different times in our lives, and it is time for him to do that," said Reese, who met privately with Beckham Monday. "He is a little bit of a lightning rod because of what he does on the football field, but the things he does off the football field, he has to be responsible for those things."

Beckham, 24, led the NFL in receiving yards per game during his rookie season. He has 35 touchdowns and 4,122 yards on 288 receptions through his first three seasons. Beckham was named to his third Pro Bowl in December.

But it's what happens when things aren't going his way that seems most concerning. Beckham punched and left a hole in a wall at Lambeau Field last weekend, following the Giants' season-ending loss in the NFC wildcard round to the Green Bay Packers. He has been seen shouting at himself and banging his head against walls and doors following tough losses.

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Beckham was suspended for the Giants Week 16 game in 2015 after taking a cheap shot at Josh Norman when he was playing against the Carolina Panthers. In the Giants' Week 3 loss to Norman and the Washington Redskins, Beckham got into an altercation with a kicking net. He was fined after a Week 13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers for verbal abuse directed at the officiating crew.

"This is what I see – I see a guy who needs to think about some of the things that he does," Reese told reporters Monday. "Everybody knows that he is a gifted player, but there are some things that he has done that he needs to look at himself in the mirror and be honest with himself about. And I think he will do that. We will help him with that, but he has to help himself and we believe he will do that. He is a smart guy, but sometimes he doesn't do smart things."

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