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A18 SPORTS
Thursday 6 June 2019
Beckham relishing new start, 'giddy' about Browns' potential

By TOM WITHERS It's how Beckham rolls, and
AP Sports Writer the Browns are quickly
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Once learning that his off-field
Odell Beckham Jr. found his moves will be as scrutinized
way back to Ohio, it didn't as any pass patterns.
take him long to notice a But they were OK with his
change. solo mission, and believe
"I feel something in the air," going forward he'll put the
he said. "Something special team first. Beckham stayed
that Cleveland hasn't had in touch over the past two
for a while." months with coach Freddie
Beckham has breathed Kitchens, who isn't worried
new life into the Browns. about the playmaker be-
The superstar wide receiv- ing behind.
er held court for nearly 20 "Odell is a bright guy,"
minutes Wednesday in his Kitchens said following a
first media availability since workout forced indoors by
Cleveland introduced him thunderstorms. "He is smart.
to its ravenous fan base It is not like this is the first
in a news conference on time he has opened up our
April 1. Beckham, whose (play) book. He has been
antics in New York became studying and all that kind of
tabloid fodder for five sea- stuff. Odell is making prog-
sons, spent most of the past ress just like everybody else.
eight weeks away from Odell had some bad plays,
the team getting his body and he had some good
into peak condition and his plays. He is going to contin-
mind right. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. runs through a drill at the team's NFL football ue to grow and learn, and
The 26-year-old said he's training facility in Berea, Ohio, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. that is what everybody else
never felt better. Associated Press is going to do. Odell doesn't
"Mentally, physically, spiri- have a magic wand.
tually, I've gone to a differ- hardly contain his excite- got a training camp to go They haven't seen much of "He is going to come out
ent place," he said. "For the ment to be joining an of- through and I feel like this the three-time Pro Bowler, and he is going to work. He
people that know me, they fense that includes quarter- team is going to come to- who skipped the majority is going to work as hard as
know I'm in a place I've back Baker Mayfield and gether. of the team's voluntary off- anybody to get better ev-
never been in in my entire close friend Jarvis Landry. "But I'm beyond excited season workout program, ery day, a little bit better
life and I'm just happy with "I'm almost giddy," he said. about the opportunity I showing up for just one every day."
where I am at and I'm al- "I feel like a little kid with have here to start over, a practice while opting to Beckham learned during
ways going to keep it push- the excitement that I have, new team. Obviously, the train on his own in Califor- his time in New York that
ing." seeing Baker, seeing these goal is always going to be nia. everything he says will be
Wearing an orange zip- guys. We talk a lot about the same — to hang ban- Beckham, of course, dissected, analyzed, and
up jacket with a pulled-up this offense, but this de- ners, that's what you play stayed in the spotlight dur- even twisted. In a recent
brown hoodie framing his fense is something special this game. We know we ing his extended absence GQ interview, Beckham
face, Beckham smiled easi- and this team is really com- got a lot of expectations. by chronicling his trips to said he wanted to bring
ly and often during his inter- ing together. But the good We got a lot of work to do Coachella, the Met Gala, championships to Cleve-
view session while fenced in part about it is that it's the and I think we'll get there." and Monaco's Grand Prix land and hoped to turn
by one dozen TV cameras. beginning of June and we The Browns are just happy with a steady stream of the Browns "into the new
He feels refreshed and can still got a lot of time, we still he's around. postings on Instagram. Patriots."q

Cavs owner Gilbert's recovery

from stroke will 'take time'

By TOM WITHERS meet this challenge head ily is grateful for the support
AP Sports Writer on as he always does," they've received. He had
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cava- Farner said. the stroke after falling ill
liers owner Dan Gilbert's re- Farner said Gilbert's family and being taken to a De-
covery from a recent stroke reported he "maintains his troit-area hospital, where
will "take time." strong sense of humor and he immediately underwent
That was the update pro- focus on constant improve- a catheter-based proce-
vided by Quicken Loans ment." He relayed a story dure.
CEO Jay Farner in a state- that Gilbert requested "his Gilbert has owned the
ment Wednesday night favorite beverage" while Cavs since 2005. He also
on the 57-year-old Gilbert, in the hospital and when founded Quicken Loans,
who remains hospitalized he learned it couldn't be the nation's largest online
after falling ill and suffering provided, he "insisted that mortgage lender, and has
In an Oct. 12, 2018, file photo, Quicken Loans and Rock Ven- a stroke on May 26. a review of the hospital's built a billion dollar busi-
tures founder Dan Gilbert is seen during a basketball game in "Dan's recovery is a process beverage best-practices ness empire with numerous
East Lansing, Mich. that will take time — but we be completed." company holdings in Ohio
Associated Press
are all confident that he will Farner said the Gilbert fam- and Michigan.q