Baltimore Ravens receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been named as a suspect in an assault investigation, TMZ first reported.
The allegations come just days after the Ravens signed Beckham, who has been a magnet for drama throughout his career, to a one-year, $15 million contract.
Odell Beckham Jr. Assault Investigation: What We Know
Although no precise date has been made public at this point, police told TMZ Sports that the alleged incident happened “several weeks back.” A woman claims that Beckham grabbed her by the throat with light pressure.
TMZ’s sources say that both Beckham and the woman stayed at the venue, Delilah, for the rest of the evening without further incident. Police met with the accuser a few days later where she filed a report.
MORE: FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
A representative from Beckham’s camp told TMZ they were unaware of any investigation being conducted by law enforcement. They also denied any wrongdoing.
“We reached out to Delilah for comment,” TMZ Sports wrote. “John Terzian, owner of the L.A. hotspot, told us … ‘We were contacted about an investigation and reviewed the videos, the claim is false. There is no evidence of this person even being in the area where she claims the incident occurred.’”
Controversy Follows Odell Beckham Jr.
The night the Joe Burrow-led LSU Tigers, Beckham’s alma mater, won the National Championship Game, the star receiver was in attendance. While celebrating in the locker room with the team, he appeared to “slap the buttocks of a security officer.” Just a few days later, Beckham’s lawyer told media that the chargers were dropped.
That same night, Beckham was seen handing money out to the LSU players after wrapping up their historic season. Considering their amateur status as college football players prior to NIL, that was also mired in controversy. As a result, LSU suspended Beckham from school facilities for two years as part of their self-imposed sanctions.
Then, in November 2022, as Beckham was on his tour of teams trying to find work, he was escorted off a plane at Miami International Airport without incident.
“Fearing that Mr. Beckham was seriously ill, and that his condition would worsen through the expected 5-hour flight, (flight crew members) called for police and fire rescue,” Miami Dade Police Officer Luis Sierra said in a statement following the 9:30 a.m. Sunday incident.
Beckham, who was seated in first class, was reportedly coming in and out of consciousness as the flight crew tried urging him to fasten his seatbelt.
MORE: Ravens Viewed as a Potential Landing Spot for DeAndre Hopkins
In short, Beckham has never been in any legitimate trouble throughout his career. Aside from kicking nets and a few NFL cornerbacks, Beckham hasn’t shown any sort of violent streak during his time in the league.
At his introductory press conference with the Ravens, the media discussed his time in New York and Los Angeles, big cities with big media outlets and a huge spotlight. Baltimore, at this point in Beckham’s career, may be a better speed for the receiver.
When asked about what he can bring to the team, he had this to say:
“One quote I’ve always lived by is, ‘You’re only as good as your last game,'” Beckham said. “It can be up for debate, but I think I was well on the way to being MVP in that [Super Bowl LVI] game. It’s just the type of mentality that I have; it’s in my heart since I was a kid. I’m not worried about coming back from this because I’ve come back before, and now I’m way past the mental part of, ‘Am I going to be alright?'”
There’s no denying that Beckham was having a special playoff run. He was producing like his old self, and he had a few huge plays early in that Super Bowl. If he can avoid drama, OBJ could be exactly what Baltimore has been looking for on the outside since Lamar Jackson joined the team.