Odell Beckham Jr.'s most infamous photo gets new context from former teammate

23 September 2023 , 13:53

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The infamous picture of Odell Beckham Jr. on a yacht in Miami following the end of the 2016 regular season (Image: JPAFootball/ @jasrifootball)

Further details have emerged surrounding the curious snap of Odell Beckham Jr. wearing Timberland boots while hanging out on a yacht in Miami, courtesy of Victor Cruz.

The superstar was left embarrassed after the infamous photograph of him relaxing with his then- New York Giants teammates back in 2017 emerged. He had jetted to Florida alongside wide receivers group of including Cruz, Sterling Shepard and Roger Lewis to celebrate a key victory.

In jubilant mood, their plan was to toast their 19-10 victory over Washington on New Year’s Day in style, by partying with A-Listers including Justin Bieber. Alongside a visit to Liv Nightclub they had pencilled in some relaxation on a yacht after finishing the 2016 regular season 11-5.

Cruz has now explained the part he had to play in the incident. Speaking to Chris Long on the Green Light Podcast, Cruz said: "When we flew to Miami, he was like, ‘Man, I don’t have any shoes,' I was like, ‘I only have these Timbs for you.’ So those are actually my boots that he’s wearing in the photo."

The picture emerged prior to the Giants' playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers and Cruz has spoken honestly about his regret about the trip in the years since. Speaking in 2020 to E! Online, the former wide receiver said: "This photo will haunt me for the rest of my life.

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"It was more so the feeling of, ‘Man, when am I going to get to do this again? When am I going to get to be an athlete, win a football game, go on a private jet, go to Miami the same night?"

Odell Beckham Jr. wore Timberland boots on the deck of a yacht in Miami following the end of the 2016 regular season (JPAFootball/ @jasrifootball)

The 36-year-old also admitted that he had reflected on the incident, especially following the Giants' subsequent loss versus the Packers. In addition, he acknowledged that the photo probably would never have emerged had it been taken before the days of social media.

Cruz added: "It was one of those things where I was just like, ‘I think I’m just going to feed our ego tonight'. If this was 1999, no one would have known about the trip, we would have went, had a great time, come back.

"And then had we won the game, that’s the part that kind of bothers me, too. If we won the game, they’d be like, ‘Go to Miami every week, apparently that’s the good luck charm.’ The fact that we lost, left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth."

Tom Beattie