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Reports: Giants WR Beckham Jr. won't play without new deal

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is vowing to hold out if he doesn't receive a new contract before the season begins, according to a report by the NFL Network.

Beckham, 25, is entering the final year of his rookie deal, the fifth-year option worth $8.5 million. He is involved in ongoing talks about a contract extension with the Giants, and team co-owner John Mara had said previously he wanted Beckham to be a Giant for life.

But first the team has to work on getting him onto the field in 2018.

"WR Odell Beckham Jr will not set foot on a field without a new contract extension agreed to -- with the #Giants or any team," a tweet by NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport read in part.

Fellow co-owner Steve Tisch said Monday at the annual owner's meetings that he hasn't been approached by anyone representing Beckham about a holdout.

"We have not been contacted by anyone representing Odell making that comment or suggesting that's something he might do," said Tisch.

Tisch also said that he hopes Beckham remains with the Giants for years to come, but that it's too early to get worked up over negotiations.

"Odell's contract will be negotiated at the appropriate time," Tisch said. "At the moment, conversations between (Giants GM) Dave Gettleman and Odell's representatives are at the earliest, most premature stages."

The news comes on the heels of Mara admitting his disappointment with the star wide receiver at Sunday's NFL owners meetings in Orlando, Fla., sharing that while Beckham Jr. may not be on the trading block, he is not an "untouchable."

"I can't answer that one way or the other," Mara said. "We're certainly not shopping him. Again, when you're coming off a season when you're 3-13 and played as poorly as we played, I wouldn't say that anyone is untouchable."

Mara was also non-committal on any contract updates.

"Contracts get done when they're supposed to get done," he said. "We'll just have to see what happens."

Mara's disappointment stems, in part, from a video appearing to show Beckham holding a brown cigarette or cigar during a trip overseas that caught the attention of the Giants and the NFL. Both acknowledged the existence of the seven-second video that began circulating earlier this month on social media while Beckham was in Europe on a Nike-sponsored trip.

In the video, a man who appears to be Beckham is holding the unknown substance next to a pizza on a bed and talking with a woman. The woman is holding a credit card, and an unknown white substance is also purportedly pictured.

"I think too often he allows himself to be put in bad situations and needs to use better judgment," Mara said. "As I've said before, I'm tired of answering questions about Odell's behavior and what the latest incident is. I think he knows what we expect of him, and now it's up to him."

The three-time Pro Bowler played in just four games last season, catching 25 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.

Over 47 career NFL games, Beckham has reeled in 313 passes for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns.

--Field Level Media