All off-season we have heard the rumours of Odell Beckham Jr leaving New York Giants but now he’s gone from a much-speculated star receiver to an inspirational figure in the locker room for rookie Saquon Barkley.

It’s a relieving transition for Giants fans out there who feared he was set for the exit door during a winter of seeming discontent in New York. The worries started when it was reported that he wouldn’t attend voluntary workouts without a new deal even though now it’s being stated the receiver will do just that.

There is no doubt Beckham wants a new deal and it has been reported he desires upwards of $20 million a year. He is due to have a base salary of just under $8.5 million but that’s in the final year of his rookie contract, with the Giants still holding a fifth-year option.

But now there is a feeling that Beckham’s new deal will eventually come which is progress from the reports that had the Giants admitting two first round picks could prise him away from New York.

Further proof of the turnaround came in the form of Barkley’s response to the type of advice he has been given since arriving in the Big Apple, with Beckham coming to the fore. The Giants selection of Barkley with the second overall pick was a big moment for their offense and it’s great news that Beckham and the rookie are already getting along so well as the former’s comments below prove.

“Odell and I got a lot closer since the Draft and it was great meeting him,” Barkley explained. “Odell was just being Odell. He’s one of the most electrifying players in the NFL, if not the best wide receiver in the NFL. He saw who I was from college, and we just started working out.

“Since then, he started giving me tips. He gave me a lot of tips on how to do it, and how not to do it. He’s done a little bit of both. Everyone has that. He has 4-5 years in his career. He’s seen it all. I look forward to our career together and obviously our friendship growing even more.

“The best advice Odell gave me, and the best advice that I’ve gotten from a lot of the veteran players and people in general is to just continue being me. I got here for a reason. Obviously, you have to improve on your work ethic and your game. Obviously, you have a lot more time to focus on the game of football. Just be you. Stay true to who you are, be humble, be hungry, and the rest will take care of itself.”