Kelly: Odell Beckham Jr is using football as his therapy | Opinion

Let’s bask in a moment of transparency with Odell Beckham Jr., who wants you to know a few things.

First, and most importantly, he’s struggling mentally.

And we’re talking about day-to-day struggles.

Life’s hard right now, and he’s not sharing that for sympathy.

The Miami Dolphins’ newest high-profile receiver, who has to get used to being a backup, knows he’s not alone in his mental health journey.

“That’s life,” said Beckham, a 10-year veteran who participated in his first week of practice with the Dolphins last week and played sparingly in Sunday’s 15-10 win over the New England Patriots. “I have to find ways to continue to fight through some of the things I’m battling in my life. Each and every person, no matter how high or how low, we all go through things in life. The lowest of the lows, and the highest of the highs are the same for everyone.”

At the moment of this interview, which came right after the Dolphins’ final practice of their bye week, Beckham admitted he was low.

All he could think about is reuniting with his 2-year old son Zydn, traveling to Arizona to spend time with him during the Dolphins’ bye week because fatherhood brings him some peace.

But football is his refuge, which is why he hasn’t retired.

At this point in his life Beckham, who has made $102 million from the NFL, is not playing for the money.

He can make a couple million cashing in on his following and fame right now.

At this moment, football, the sport he has played since he was in his single digits, provides this three-time Pro Bowler something that occupies his mind, keeps him out of the dark places, and he’s focused on being “where my feet are at.”

The locker room is his safe space, and that’s why Beckham claims he’s enjoying football more now than he has in years.

“This is the least pressure I’ve ever felt in my life,” said Beckham, who has 566 career receptions, which he has turned into 7,932 yards and 60 touchdowns.

In Miami he’s not asked to be a superstar, and isn’t obligated to do everything that comes with that mantel.

He’s not expected to carry an offense, or to make a quarterback look better than he really is (maybe Tyler Huntley, a close friend who will start while Tua Tagovailoa clears the concussion protocol).

In fact, Beckham points out he’s being asked to learn a position he hasn’t played since high school, filling the slot receiver role while Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle primarily work outside.

“It’s new, but I welcome the challenge,” said Beckham, who played 11 snaps in his first game back, but didn’t pull down a reception despite being targeted twice.

Beckham admitted Tuesday that he needs to have a few discussions with himself about his own expectations for 2024.

“I’m always expecting to get the ball and make plays. That wasn’t it. I was on a pitch count,” Beckham said. “I have to get back into the flow, and it’s a process.”

Beckham had pushed his body so much getting ready for the week, he admitted to being sore on game day. But that’s what’s to be expected after playing in the game only having practiced twice since February because he was rehabbing a knee that has been surgically repaired shortly after signing with the Dolphins.

“It’s about building a callous,” Beckham said. “Some guys are still huffing and puffing and it’s Week 4.”

But that’s what this football journey he’s on is about, ansd he’s glad he’s doing it with the Dolphins.

Despite the franchise’s disappointing start to this season, he believes in this team, and it’s not just lip service.

He remembers preparing for the 2023 Dolphins while starting for the Baltimore Ravens and thinking that the Dec. 31 game in Baltimore was a showdown for the No.1 spot in the AFC, winner-take-all situation.

His Ravens walked away with a convincing 56-19 victory in a game where Miami was decimated by injuries that impacted the team the rest of that season, but from that point his admiration for the Dolphins grew.

Then he met coach Mike McDaniel and his obsession with Miami’s offense lit a fire in him, and Miami’s player-friendly coach convinced him to join the Dolphins because he was convinced he could help.

That’s why Miami’s no retirement spot.

His 10th season season in the NFL and first with the Dolphins isn’t this extended vacation some critics claim it is for Beckham.

He wants to make an impact, if his body allows it, and like most aged veterans — which the 31-year-old is at this point — he has little control over that.

All he can do is have a good attitude, and put his best foot — or knee — forward.

“It’s been a long, long time working out. It’s been a long journey from the end of last season, going into the offseason. Not really knowing what to expect from football and what I wanted to do,” Beckham said. “After all the hard work, it was fun going out there and getting a win.”