Odell Beckham, Jr., a game changer, didn’t get enough looks in the Game 2 loss

KEISHA: So we're going to move from the hard courts of the NBA and we're going to go to the Gridiron of the NFL and we are going to talk about one of our favorite teams and one of our favorite players at least mine, and that's Odell Beckham Jr.

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., told Kimberly A. Martin of Yahoo Sports that he feels like he can help out much more in the passing game to steer the Giants in the right direction.

Mike, do you think that Odell Beckham is being utilized enough or is it the team's 1 - 2 to start that is causing Beckham to search for answers?

MIKE: Well, the first game he was certainly utilized enough in the game against Jacksonville, no question about it against the toughest defense in the NFL, right now, that certainly he played a very good game and I thought that they gave him enough opportunities throughout that game. And then, of course, Game 2, I didn't think that they gave him, they looked at him enough in that loss where they lost that second game of the season. But, I felt like in Week 3, the offense was really clicking on all cylinders. And, I think a lot of that had to do with the offensive line. If the offensive line is playing well, there's no question that Eli Manning is going to get more and more opportunities to get Odell Beckham, Jr. the ball. The guy is a game changer. There's no question about that and they need him, you know, they certainly need him but Keisha what I'll finish with is it's going to be a tricky road for the next month of the Giants, you know, they face the New Orleans Saints and then they go and they have to play the Carolina Panthers they back that up on a short week against the Philadelphia Eagles and then play the Atlanta Falcons. Now, these are four teams that wound up making the playoffs last season, 3 out of the last four years, I think three of those four teams with the exception of New Orleans has won the NFC.

KEISHA: I think the Saints were out last year right there.

MIKE: Yeah, exactly. They lost to Minnesota (Vikings). I think in that crazy last-second miracle game. But I think for the Giants this is going to be a tough road ahead and it's going to be a tough test for Pat Shurmur and Odell Beckham, but I think that the biggest question mark they have is the offensive line at that offensive line, which really started to come around and that win against Houston if it's starting to play a lot better than Odell Beckham certainly will be happy.

KEISHA: Yeah, definitely. I agree with you. I think that his, Odell's frustrations or his sentiment was based on that Dallas (Cowboys) game Week 2 where he only had four receptions in 51 yards. And I think you know the Giants offense has struggled scoring for the past couple of seasons. I mean the last time they scored 30 points in the game was January 3rd, 2016.

That's a lot of football to happen and you can't score 30 points when you have an Odell Beckham Jr., when you have a Sterling Shepherd. At one point, they had Brandon Marshall, but he was gone within like the first couple of games of the season but when you have an Evan Engram when there's talent that you know, it's one of the best receiving corps in an NFL in if you can't score 30 points, there's an issue. The offensive line really rebounded and played well on the third game against the Houston Texans and there was a shift in the line where Ereck Flowers was sidelined. He was benched and that was a sigh of relief and probably jubilation for most of us who just really are shaking our heads as to why Ereck Flowers has been allowed to start this long. But, the offensive line is key. And you know, I think Odell was probably, maybe if you read between the lines he was talking to Eli because Eli has overthrown him or short-thrown him or haven't seen him wide open.

So it's going to be imperative for Eli to be able to notice and fairly quickly because even with the better play from the offensive line, he's not going to have tons of time to just sit and scan for like 30 seconds, 10 seconds or whatever. So, you know Eli's got to make sure that he sees the field see it quickly and get and delivers the ball to him. And with Odell, it doesn't have to be a pinpoint precise pass just throw it somewhere in his area, he's gonna get it with those big hands he's got. And, then also, you know, it's going to be up to the offensive coordinator Mike Shula to make sure that he is running an offense that's going to get Odell involved. I mean and it doesn't necessarily I don't think you have to force feed it to him. I think because you have Sterling Shepard and you have Evan Engram who presents enough of a threat that you can pass the ball, so you're not forced feeding and showing your hand all the time.

So, you know, if the game against the Houston Texans was any indication that how the season's going to go, Odell is going to be happy, Giants' fans are going to be happy. We're gonna win some games, maybe make a push for the playoffs and all will be right in New York City.

Carmelo Anthony’s surprise pronouncement about his role in Houston; Tiger Wins; Brooklyn Nets culture continuity

Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald, the hosts of What’s The 411Sports, are discussing:

• Jimmy Butler’s impending trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves;
• The NBA allowing Mark Cuban to keep his team amid the numerous sexual harassment allegations against Dallas Maverick employees;
• Odell Beckham, Jr.’s feeling that he could and wants to be more useful to the New York Giants;
• Tiger Woods winning his first major golf tournament in five years
• Why some NBA players don’t want to play with LeBron James
• Carmelo Anthony acknowledged that he will do whatever it takes to help Houston Rockets win;
• The Brooklyn Nets media day, and;
• The New York Yankees clinch a wild-card spot and Didi Gregorius injures his wrist

Rashad Jennings Says Odell Beckham Jr. is Capable of Leading Giants

Rashad Jennings, former New York Giants running back. Photo by Bill Kostroun

During a conversation on an episode of Fox Sports’ Speak for Yourself, Rashad Jennings, a former running back with the New York Giants said that Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. could “absolutely” be a leader.

What’s The 411Sports hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald took up the question and the responses were mixed.

WATCH: Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald Discuss Odell Beckham Jr.’s perceived leadership capabilities

WATCH: Rashad Jennings: Odell Beckham Jr is ‘absolutely’ capable of leading the Giants

Civic engagement program sponsored by RISE, a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross

Martin Luther King III met with NY Giants players and staff to encourage them to become more politically active and to use their platforms and influence to get others involved in civic engagement.

The event was sponsored by RISE, a nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross, and is dedicated to harnessing the unifying power of sports to improve race relations and drive social progress.

So, it begs the question, where was Stephen Ross’ voice of reason regarding Colin Kaepernick’s rationale for kneeling during the National Anthem?

Did Dez Bryant make the right decision to hold out or, could he wind up on the outside looking in?

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, Dez Bryant, is still a free agent.

He turned down an offer from the Baltimore Ravens reportedly worth roughly $21 million over three years. Now, it seems he may have to wait until training camp to get an offer.

Will Sixers release Bryan Colangelo; Lakers Possible Off-Season Moves; JJ Watt our Athlete of the week; Tristan Thompson among most useless Cavaliers, and more

In this episode of What's The 411Sports, hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald, are talking about the NBA FINALS featuring the three-time NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers; Bryan Colangelo's current employment woes with the Philadelphia 76ers; how the eyes of NBA world are on the Los Angeles Lakers’ upcoming offseason moves; JJ Watt, our Athlete of the Week; Brooklyn Nets player, Jeremy Lin, initiates a clap-back at ESPN’s Jalen Rose; the Most Useless Cavaliers, is Tristan Thompson on the list? and more. 

Rashad Jennings is making a positive impact on young people through his nonprofit foundation, the Rashad Jennings Foundation

Rashad Jennings, a former running back for the New York Football Giants, is now a free agent, but he is not letting any grass grow under his feet.

On his LinkedIn post, Jennings says he spends his off-seasons traveling, training, and impacting lives through his 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Rashad Jennings Foundation. During the 2015-2016 school year, the Rashad Jennings Foundation was in over 25 schools in four states and impacted over 20 thousand students. The foundation’s focus is on literacy, mentorship, and health & fitness initiatives.

For more information about the Rashad Jennings Foundation’s and to get involved with the Rashad Jennings Foundation on an individual or corporate level, please visit RashadJenningsFoundation.org.

VIDEO DISCUSSION: University of Alabama sorority member racist social media post goes viral, and she is promptly expelled from school

NY Giants safety Landon Collins and other Alabama-affiliated athletes took to Twitter to respond to racist remarks made by Harley Barber, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority at the University of Alabama, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"Alpa Phi, 'Be weary of the company you keep for they are a reflection of who you are or who you want to be.' Harley Barber didn't wake up this morning and decide to spew racist rhetoric for the first time in her life. Therefore, I believe I speak on behalf of my brothers and myself, when I say, the Bama football team does not need the support, cheers or high fives of anyone who condones this type of intolerant, hateful behavior. #BuiltByBama."

The school and the sorority expelled Barber. She is now back home in New Jersey and told the NY Post:

"I did something really, really bad. I don't know what to do and I feel horrible. I'm wrong and there's just no excuse for what I did."

Collins said he would be willing to speak with her.

Does Collins need to speak with her? Should he speak with her? Or, are the expulsion from school and her sorority enough to be teachable moments?

Comment here.

VIDEO: Are the Dallas Cowboys poised to win the NFC East?

The New York Giants made a number of moves during this off-season, however, there is still a question of which team will win the NFC East?

NY Jets win a game against the Baltimore Ravens, but Geno Smith is out with torn ACL; NCAA puts Rick Pitino on the hot seat

The panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman are talking about:

What's Poppin

• The NY Giants, NFL, and Josh Brown Domestic Violence Issue/Dilemma
• Sam Bradford and the Minnesota Vikings lose their first game of the season at the hand of Mychal Kendricks and the Philadelphia Eagles
• The NY Jets manage to win a game against the Baltimore Ravens with Geno Smith as quarterback along with Ryan Fitzpatrick who came in when Geno suffered a torn ACL. However, Fitzpatrick’s postgame comments raised lots of eyebrows because he took a swipe at head coach Todd Bowles and the rest of the NY Jets organization sounding like he was benched after winning all season, which could be further from the truth.
• Is Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis enabling bad behavior from Vontaze Burfict

Under The Radar

• University of Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino comes under fire from the NCAA after reports of a brothel-like atmosphere occurred for the pleasure of Louisville basketball players and recruits

On The Bench

• New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose and the jurors of his civil rape case are on the bench for posing for photos after the jurors found Rose not liable