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NY Post
New York Post
12 May 2023


NextImg:Sauce Gardner: Odell Beckham had his Jets jersey number picked out

Star cornerback Sauce Gardner is spilling the tea about how close Odell Beckham Jr. apparently came to joining the Jets.

Prior to Beckham signing with the Ravens in April, the Pro Bowl wideout — who missed all of last season while recovering from an ACL tear he sustained in Super Bowl 2022 — was in talks with the Jets.

Although it’s unclear how deep they were into discussions, Beckham had his sights set on wearing the number seven as a Jet, according to Gardner — who has Beckham on speed dial and tried to publicly recruit him to New York.

“Odell, he wanted to play here,” Gardner said in an interview with Sports Illustrated for its June 2023 cover. “It was to the point where he was picking his jersey.

“He was telling me, like, ‘Hey, ask so-and-so if I can get the jersey [number I want].’ He was going to wear number 7.”

Beckham wore No. 3 when he joined the Rams in November 2021 following his release from the Browns.

Odell Beckham Jr. attends Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs between the Phoenix Suns and the LA Clippers at Footprint Center on April 18, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Getty Images

Newly signed Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., center, stands with head coach John Harbaugh, left, and general manager Eric DeCosta during a news conference at the team's practice facility in Owings Mills, Md. on April 13, 2023.

Newly signed Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr., center, stands with head coach John Harbaugh, left, and GM Eric DeCosta during a news conference at the team’s practice facility in Owings Mills, Md., April 13, 2023.
AP

At the time, ESPN reported that Beckham, who wore No. 3 in college at LSU, agreed to wear No. 3 temporarily for the 2021-22 season — and if he re-signed with the Rams, he would switch back to No. 13.

Beckham wore the No. 13 for five years with the Giants, and then in Cleveland.

Beckham has yet to address Gardner’s comments.

The 30-year-old receiver was linked to the Jets in March, when multiple reports said he was close to signing with New York.

The reports came days after Beckham replied to a tweet suggesting he should go to the Jets.

Aaron Rodgers also reportedly had Beckham on his “wish list” of free agents before the quarterback was traded to the Jets in April.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and cornerback Sauce Gardner attend Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on May 2, 2023 in New York City.

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and cornerback Sauce Gardner at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Knicks and the Heat at Madison Square Garden on May 2, 2023 in New York City.
Getty Images

Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets looks on after the Jets beat the Green Bay Packers 27-10 at Lambeau Field on Oct. 16, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets looks on after the Jets beat the Green Bay Packers 27-10 at Lambeau Field on Oct. 16, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Getty Images

After multiple visits with teams near the end of last season, including the Giants, Beckham signed a one-year deal worth up to $18 million with Baltimore.

On Thursday, Beckham shared a video running sprints at a track with his former Giants teammate, running back Saquon Barkley, and Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins.