Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. was asked point blank by ESPN's Josina Anderson if there was an "issue" with Eli Manning at quarterback, and his answer was a bit shocking.
"Uh, I don't know," Beckham said during an interview that aired Sunday, adding that "we know Eli's not running (the ball).
"Like I said, I feel like he's not going to get out the pocket," Beckham added. "We know Eli's not running it. But is it a matter of time issue? Can he still throw it, yeah, but it's been pretty safe and it's been, you know ... cool catching shallow [routes] and trying to take it to the house. But I'm. ... I want to go over the top of somebody."
Beckham, who has been vocal about the need for the team needing to throw the ball downfield more, said after Sunday's 33-31 loss to the Panthers that he texted head coach Pat Shurmur on Saturday asking if he could clarify his comments to the rest of the team, according to the New York Daily News' Pat Leonard.
In his interview with ESPN, he said he hasn't "been in the place" where he's been able to do what he's capable of doing.
"I just haven't been in the situation," he said. "I haven't been in the place where I feel like I can really go out and do what I'm capable of doing. I don't get 20 targets like some other receivers."
Beckham also said he felt he was being "outschemed":
"I feel like I'm being outschemed, and then I also don't have a chance to do something where I've got to take a slant and go 60. And not to say that's not fun, but it's like I want some easy touchdowns, too. I watch everybody across the league. All the top receivers get the ball the way that they, you know, should. And if they don't, they say something about it."
Beckham has been targeted 45 times in four games this season, reeling in 31 catches for 331 yards and zero touchdowns. His average reception has been 10.7 yards -- down significantly from his career average of 13.8 yards.
The 25-year-old Beckham, who recently agreed to a massive contract extension, said his happiness won't be dicated by money, but by winning.
"If you have a window this big to maximize your full potential," not maximizing it "is more frustrating to me than anything else."
"I want to win," Beckham continued, adding that he's "not gonna be okay with it, money or no money" if he doesn't win.
Like the question about Manning, Beckham gave a very candid answer to whether he's happy in New York.
"That's a tough question," Beckham said before noting how he loves "seeing the sunshine and being in L.A. ... This is where i'm at. this is where i'll be at. ... I want to be here."