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OBJ: Couldn't reach 'full potential' with Giants

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. says his departure from the New York Giants was necessary because he felt he "wasn't going to be able to reach my full potential there."
Beckham addressed leaving the Giants in an interview with Complex published Thursday, saying the opportunity to join the Browns will allow his on-field production to flourish.
"I just felt with the Giants I was just stuck at a place that wasn't working for me anymore," Beckham said. "I felt like I wasn't going to be able to reach my full potential there. Mentally, physically, spiritually, everything I felt capable of doing, I just couldn't see it happening there. So I think allowing me to be in an environment where I can be myself and give it a different approach, I feel like my football will benefit. I'm just excited about being able to play football again and not have to deal with all the other stuff and politics that came with my previous role."
Beckham had a tumultuous exit from New York, traded in March after a 2018 season in which he openly questioned quarterback Eli Manning's ability and less than a year after signing a five-year deal with the Giants worth up to $98.5 million.
To Complex, Beckham touted the culture in Cleveland and again expressed excitement about pairing with former LSU teammate and fellow wide receiver Jarvis Landry.
"They've got players over there who I just know I'm gonna click with," Beckham told Complex. "Jarvis is a brother of mine, and we dreamed of this moment. It's just crazy that it's actually happening. The percentage of people that make it to the NFL is less than 1%, so the chances of me playing with one of my brothers on the same team is a dream manifested, for sure."
Beckham has previously shared his joy over being a member of the Browns, saying June 5 that he was "almost giddy" to be in Cleveland.
As he prepares for his sixth NFL season, Beckham says he is on a social media hiatus, posting in an Instagram story Thursday that he is "goin away till July 1st for trainin." He told Complex that he is looking forward to the "fresh start" that comes with playing for a new team.
"I've been waiting to explode in games, and I've been working extremely hard [to take] my game to the next level," he said. "That's exactly what I think I can do at the Browns."
The Complex interview was conducted while Beckham was in London last weekend and participated in tryouts for the NFL Academy.

Tacko Fall, a 7-foot-6 center from UCF, will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Boston Celtics, a source told ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
Exhibit 10 contracts, introduced in the NBA's most recent collective bargaining agreement, are one-year deals paying the minimum salary. They also can be used for two-way contracts.
Fall was not selected Thursday night during the NBA draft.
Fall averaged 10.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and shot 74 percent from the field over his four-year collegiate career. During his senior season, he posted marks of 11.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and hit 74.8 percent of his attempts.
Fall has attracted attention because of his size and because he held his own against Zion Williamson in UCF's one-point loss to Duke in the NCAA tournament.

Former Duke teammates Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett are slated to make their NBA summer league debuts against each other.
The NBA said Friday that Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans will face off against Barrett and the New York Knicks on July 5, the first day of the league's annual summer showcase at UNLV. Williamson was the No. 1 pick in Thursday's draft, and Barrett was selected No. 3 overall.
Another marquee matchup awaits Williamson on July 6, when the Pelicans take on the Washington Wizards and No. 9 selection Rui Hachimura -- the first Japanese-born player to be taken in the first round of the draft.
All 30 NBA teams will be participating in Las Vegas, along with the Chinese and Croatian national teams. China will play the Miami Heat on July 5, the Sacramento Kings on July 6, the Charlotte Hornets on July 8 and the Milwaukee Bucks on July 10. Croatia takes on the Detroit Pistons on July 5, the Brooklyn Nets on July 7, the Oklahoma City Thunder on July 9 and the Dallas Mavericks on July 10.
Every team is guaranteed five games, with eight teams making the playoffs. Quarterfinals are on July 13, semifinals on July 14 and the title game on July 15.
There are summer leagues again this year in Salt Lake City and Sacramento as well, with both of those four-team events beginning July 1. No. 2 overall pick Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies will take part in the Utah event before coming to Las Vegas.
Last year's summer league in Las Vegas set records for attendance, viewership and online traffic across the NBA's social and digital platforms. This year, ESPN will air every game on the ESPN App and 43 games across its networks. NBA TV will air 40 games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Texas Rangers third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera was hit with a four-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for throwing his batting gloves from the dugout at umpire Bill Miller during Thursday's 4-2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Arlington, Texas.
Cabrera had gone 0-for-3 with three strikeouts before getting ejected in the bottom of the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes. He responded by throwing the gloves, one of which appeared to hit Miller.
Cabrera is expected to appeal, so he will likely be in the lineup Friday when the Rangers host the Chicago White Sox. The suspension will be held in abeyance until the appeal is resolved.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Josh Donaldson won his appeal and will not be suspended after a benches-clearing incident with the Pittsburgh Pirates, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan.
His fine for the incident was also reduced to $1,000, the source said.
Donaldson had been suspended for one game following a skirmish with Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove and catcher Elias Diaz on June 10.
With two outs in the first inning, Musgrove grazed Donaldson's jersey with a pitch. As Donaldson headed to first base, he exchanged words with Musgrove and took a few steps toward the mound before Diaz intervened. Donaldson shoved Diaz, prompting players from both dugouts and bullpens to spill onto the field. No punches were thrown and the field was quickly cleared.
Donaldson and Musgrove were ejected from the game, and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was ejected by plate umpire Brian Gorman for arguing the decision to toss Musgrove.

Oakland Athletics starter Frankie Montas has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance Ostarine, MLB said Friday.
Montas, 26, was in the midst of a breakout season in which he was 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA and 97 strikeouts against 21 walks in 90 innings. He will not be eligible to return to the A's until the end of September and will not be eligible to pitch in the postseason.
After Montas tested positive, he argued that he took a tainted substance not intended to enhance his baseball performance. While the argument was credible, sources said, Montas opted against appealing the suspension and eventually accepted the standard first-time penalty for a banned substance.
Montas said in a statement issued by the MLB Players Association he was "deeply saddened" by the positive test.
"While I never intended to take any prohibited substance, I unfortunately and unknowingly ingested a contaminated supplement that I had purchased over the counter at a nutrition store here in the United States," Montas said in the statement. "That said, I respect MLB rules and understand my responsibilities under the Joint Drug Agreement, and accept full responsibility. I sincerely apologize to the A's organization, the fans, my teammates, and my family for this mistake. My hope is to be able to return to the A's later this season and contribute as best I can."
The right-handed Montas has been the best pitcher for Oakland and was a legitimate All-Star candidate before the suspension. At 40-36, the A's are one game behind Boston for the second wild-card spot in the American League.
"The A's were disappointed upon learning of this suspension," the team said in a statement. "We fully support MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and we will welcome Frankie back after the discipline has been served."
Oakland does have a surplus of starting pitching primed to join the roster heading into the second half. Top prospect Jesus Luzardo is expected to make his next appearance at Triple-A after missing the season's first two months with a shoulder injury.
A.J. Puk, also a dynamic left-hander, is at High-A building up his pitch count after Tommy John surgery last spring. Sean Manaea, the ace of Oakland's staff last season, is nearing a rehab assignment following shoulder surgery in September.
Andy Murray's 'magic' best shots on fairytale return at Queen's

Watch some of the best shots as Andy Murray makes a "fairytale return" to action after a career-saving hip operation with an impressive victory in the Queen's doubles.
READ MORE: Murray makes winning return in doubles at Queen's
WATCH MORE: Wawrinka beats Evans in straight sets - best shots
Available to UK users only.

British number one Kyle Edmund will continue his Wimbledon preparations after being awarded a wildcard to the Eastbourne tournament.
Britons Dan Evans and Jay Clarke also have wildcards, along with Heather Watson, Harriet Dart and Katie Swan.
French Open semi-finalist Johanna Konta and British number two Cameron Norrie will also play the grass-court event.
Andy Murray announced earlier this week that he will play doubles with Brazilian Marcelo Melo.
Edmund retired from the French Open with a knee injury against Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas last month and made his competitive return this week at Queen's, where he lost to top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round.
Defending Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber features in a women's draw that includes eight of the world's top 10 players.
The German will be up against fellow Grand Slam winners Ashleigh Barty, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens and Jelena Ostapenko.
Qualifying for the Eastbourne Nature Valley International began on Friday with the main tournament starting on Sunday until 29 June.
Andy Murray column: I asked Ashleigh Barty to partner me at Wimbledon

In his regular BBC Sport column, Andy Murray reveals how he approached French Open women's singles champion Ashleigh Barty to play with him in the Wimbledon mixed doubles, discusses his emotional journey from possible retirement to making his competitive comeback at Queen's and getting around on his new electric scooter.
I would like to play mixed doubles at Wimbledon next month and I have spoken to a couple of players about partnering up.
But I've been rejected a couple of times so far - in the nicest possible way, of course!
One of those people was Ash Barty.
I asked her during the French Open and she said no because she is already playing in singles and doubles, so didn't want to play in three competitions.
Of course, I understood that.
She also said: "There's many better out there than me.' Then a few days later she won the French Open, so I fired her a message saying I told her she was one of the best - but she still rejected me!
It is a shame we can't play together because I want the best partner possible.
I'm sure I will find another great partner, providing I feel good enough to play the men's and mixed doubles. That said, I need to wait and see how I'm feeling first.
'Tennis hasn't made me emotional recently'
Making my return at Queen's was a special moment; it was really nice being back on a tennis court and I enjoyed it.
I was happy playing again. But I wasn't overcome with emotion on the court.
The past couple of years have been an emotional time for me, and when it came to the Australian Open I decided I had had enough and was able to speak out about it.
Before that it was really difficult for me to do that.
Because of how professional sport is, you end up telling everyone you're OK and you're feeling a bit better. But you're not.
You say things like that to try to sound optimistic and not tell everyone how much you're struggling.
I might have had to play against those people asking me how I was, so I wasn't going to tell them that my hip was killing me and then play them the following day.
But over the past few months I haven't been emotional with regards to tennis.
I was nervous going out on to the court for the doubles match with Feliciano Lopez - and I was nervous throughout most of the match.
It felt very different to when I came back here last year, playing Nick Kyrgios in the singles. I was really emotional that day.
There have only been a couple of other times in the past few months when I have been nervous.
That's been on aeroplanes, because I get butterflies and sweaty palms when I take off on flights. And the other time was playing in the golf club championships at Wentworth last week - especially when I handed in my card having shot triple figures!
When I'm on court I notice my nerves in my legs a bit and sometimes I don't breathe properly.
Nerves are funny because they manifest in players in different ways.
For some, it affects the way they think, but it doesn't affect me in that way. I feel I am able to think quite clearly and calmly.
'I didn't see Scotland's VAR controversy'
Before the match I received plenty of messages of support from my family and friends. The people closest to me - my wife and my team, particularly - know exactly what I've been going through and they have been with me throughout the whole journey.
They have seen everything I've been through and I think they were a bit apprehensive and a bit nervous, even though they didn't want to show it.
That's because it was my first match playing with what is essentially a metal hip! But it was great, it went well and I'm pleased that they were there to see it.
The match being pushed back a day by the rain didn't affect me too much. I practised as normal on Wednesday but, unfortunately, I didn't get to see Scotland's match in the Women's World Cup. I heard it was another video assistant referee (VAR) controversy though...
And on Thursday morning I had a swim with my kids and then we all walked the dogs. I say walked, we hopped on my electric scooter - which I got for my birthday - for most of it!
I love being able to do things like that, especially now I'm pain free.
Andy Murray was talking to BBC Sport's Jonathan Jurejko at Queen's.
Kyrgios fined for unsportsmanlike behaviour at Queen's

Nick Kyrgios has been fined £13,766 ($17,500) for unsportsmanlike conduct in two matches at Queen's on Thursday.
In the first he accused a line judge of "rigging the game" and mocked the umpire, as well as threatening to walk off court.
In the second the Australian, 24, hit a ball out of the stadium.
Kyrgios, who also berated himself for "playing Fifa until 3am", beat Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, then lost to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist was fined £13,000 at Queen's last year for making a lewd gesture with a water bottle.
In his first-round match at the tournament this year, the world number 39 ranted at umpire Fergus Murphy after losing a set point which he thought was a double fault.
"It couldn't have been further out. What are you doing?" said Kyrgios.
"The ball was this far out on the second serve. I'm going," he later added.
"I'm not going to give 100% when I've got linesmen rigging the game; I don't want to play."
His other antics included peering over a fence at a changeover to watch Gilles Simon's match against Kevin Anderson on the adjacent court, trying to fist-bump with a line judge and mocking the umpire's choice of headwear.
"It's a joke, man. It's a serious joke," he said to Murphy. "Like your hat looks ridiculous, also. It's not even sunny."
Rain delays meant the Australian had to play his second-round match against Auger-Aliassime later on Thursday and he was disruptive then too, serving underarm and overruling a line call in his opponent's favour.