As the Los Angeles Rams prepare for Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, today, anticipation is high on both sides of the ball.
However, superstar Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is thinking about another significant achievement, the birth of his first child.
According to reports, Beckham Jr. is “on standby” for his first child’s birth with girlfriend Lauren Wood. The couple is expecting any day now.
.@obj and Lauren Wood are expecting to welcome their first child ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yINOx57B6q
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) February 12, 2022
Beckham & The Baby
The former Giants first-round pick did not want to discuss his decision if the big game and the birth of his child coincide.
“I don’t need you to put that energy in the air about the Saturday night or the Sunday thing,” Beckham said to the New York Post. “I think God has a different plan. I don’t need it during the Super Bowl. I want to see my child being born, so I’m on watch.”
“Literally my phone is right here just in case, so I’m on call. I’m on watch. I’m on standby,” Beckham added to The Associated Press.
“On Standby”
The 29-year-old revealed Friday that he and his girlfriend, Lauren Wood, are on any-day now timeline and that Beckham is “on standby” for the birth.
In November, Beckham and Wood announced the pregnancy with the maternity shoot photos posted to Instagram. The pair were first linked in November 2019 when the model and fitness trainer celebrated the football player’s birthday. Later, the couple made their red carpet debut in February 2020 at Vanity Fair’s Oscars party.
Interestingly, the pregnancy announcement came less than two weeks after the Cleveland Browns released Beckham, before his signing to the Los Angeles Rams.
California Dreamin'.@obj 🤝 @VonMiller pic.twitter.com/XbBzSF8QQw
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 11, 2022
Los Angeles Super Bowl
The Rams averaged 32.9 points per game in 2018. It is the 10th-highest figure in the Super Bowl era. The current Rams offense did not come close to those heights, averaging 27.1 points per game in the 2021 regular season.
Also, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is in his first Super Bowl, and he will need all Rams weapons to succeed. Stafford, who played in Detroit for twelve years, is an explosive quarterback, but that talent comes with volatility, and Stafford has attempted throws he should avoid.
Also, Stafford threw a league-leading 17 interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.
The Odell Factor
Beckham caught 27 passes for 305 yards with five touchdowns in eight regular-season games with the Rams. Beckham has added another 19 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.
This is Beckham’s first season back in full form after sitting out most of the 2020 season due to an ACL injury he sustained against the Bengals while playing for the Cleveland Browns.
Since making his @RamsNFL debut in Week 10, @OBJ has looked as close as ever to the superstar he was at the start of his career. pic.twitter.com/i2c70htLob
— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2022
However, Beckham has a lot to consider as he also has financial incentives on the line for Sunday’s big game. According to reports, in addition to the $2 million he has earned from the team’s postseason success, he gets another $500,000 if the Rams lose and $1 million if they win.
However, he must be on the active game-day roster to get the money in either case.
Beckham is always a lightning rod of attention, and now he has a difficult decision on the most important days of his athletic and personal life.
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