Giants' John Mara on Odell Beckham trade talk: 'We’re not looking to get rid of him, OK?'

A swirl of circumstances around Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham has led to speculation that the transcendent yet enigmatic talent is on his way out of New York.

The 25-year-old Beckham reportedly plans to hold out until he gets a contract extension and is reportedly seeking more than $20 million per year. His headlines off the field have been a source of complaint from Giants brass, most recently a video that surfaced of him in bed with a woman with a white powder present.

The Giants appear to be stuck in between rebuilding and playing to win and have a hard-line general manager in Dave Gettleman who traded away a prime talent in cornerback Josh Norman, who had perceptions of being a headache while with the Carolina Panthers.

“One of the most important responsibilities that any GM has is to eliminate internal and external distractions,” Gettleman told reporters on Tuesday, per SportsNet New York. “It’s my responsibility to create the atmosphere that allows players to play and coaches to coach. That’s part of my job. And I really believe that.”

Gettleman appears to be the type who believes shaping a team in his vision is a bigger priority than maintaining talent, even if that talent is irreplaceable.

Later Tuesday, Giants co-owner John Mara tried to tamp the flames of speculation raised by the reports around Beckham and reinforced by some of the team’s responses while speaking with reporters at league meetings in Orlando. But he wouldn’t close the door on a deal.

“Do I want him to be traded? Absolutely not,” Mara continued. “I want him to be a Giant. I can’t promise that’s going to happen. We’re not looking to get rid of him, OK? I’d like him to be a Giant. But if you’re asking me for a 100 percent guarantee, nobody has that.

“He’s not on the block. Is that going to stop clubs from possibly calling us? No. But he’s not on the block. We’re not shopping him around.”

So, that doesn’t really clear things up. But it does seem to be an honest look into Mara’s reluctance in parting with with one of the most gifted talents to ever wear a Giants uniform.

Perhaps Mara’s most telling statement came later, when he was asked about the video with the white powder that also showed Beckham and his companion with a pizza.

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