Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recently made headlines after he declared that his team will be the next New England Patriots after the changes it underwent recently. In a lengthy Instagram story, Beckham clarified the statement that he made in a GQ interview earlier this week where he said that he wanted to turn the Browns into the new Patriots. “Just to clarify, I will always aspire to be great. I haven't reached that point in the NFL but that's what we all chase and I'm going to continue to work to help the Browns become great,” said Beckham, who joined the Browns after he was traded by the New York Giants for a first- and third-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and safety Jabrill Peppers.

Beckham said he didn’t mean to disrespect the Patriots with his statement, saying the Browns still need a lot of work to be done before getting to the level of the Tom Brady-led squad. Beckham added that every NFL player dreams of being part of a winning organization that is playing in the playoffs and competing for Super Bowls on a regular basis. “It's really stating the obvious when you say you want your organization to be successful like the Patriots,” said Beckham.

Patriots a yardstick for success

The Patriots have made the playoffs for ten straight seasons, from 2009 to 2018. The Patriots have won the AFC East titles 18 times, including 10 straight seasons since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.

The Patriots also won six Super Bowl trophies under Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. The Browns, for their part, made the playoffs only once since the team returned to Cleveland in 1999. However, the Browns saw a glimmer of hope with the arrival of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who led the team to a 7-8-1 record last season after going winless in 2017.

Beckham said the team, under coach Freddie Kitchens and general manager John Dorsey, are doing everything to get the Browns back to the playoffs. The wide receiver added that the players and coaching staff understand that it would take a great amount of work before it happens. “Our work will determine what the Browns become," said Beckham.

Beckham almost became a Patriot

Per a report by the New York Post, quoting broadcaster Chris Simms, Beckham almost landed with the Patriots last season after Belichick expressed interest in trading for him. Simms said the Patriots aggressively pursued a deal with the Giants when they explored the trade market for Beckham. However, Simms said the Giants changed their mind after thinking that Beckham might win a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots. Instead, New England acquired Josh Gordon from the Browns for a fifth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Gordon played 11 games for the Patriots, catching 40 passes for 720 yards and three touchdowns before he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the terms of his reinstatement under the league's substance abuse policy. The Browns and the Patriots will collide on Week 8.