Odell Beckham Jr. Says He Is 'Not Having Fun' Playing Football Anymore | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Odell Beckham Jr. has been mired in a slump to start the 2016 season, and the New York Giants wide receiver expressed frustration Tuesday with the way things have unfolded during Big Blue's first four games.

A day after the Minnesota Vikings vanquished the Giants on Monday Night Football, 24-10, Beckham told ESPN's Anita Marks (via ESPN.com news services) that he's not enjoying the game like he once did. 

"Football is my sanctuary," Beckham said. "It's where I go to escape. It's where I'm most happy. I'm not having fun anymore."

Beckham's comments come on the heels of a performance that saw him catch just three passes for a career-low 23 yards in a chippy matchup with Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes. 

The one-on-one showdown became heated enough that Beckham drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following a collision and an apparent verbal exchange on the sideline with Rhodes. 

"It's always, it's just my fault. That's all I look at it as, it's my fault. Whatever you want to call it," Beckham said after the loss Monday, per the Associated Press' Jon Krawczynski (via the Washington Post). "I just have to understand if I sneeze the wrong way, it'll be a flag, it'll be a fine. If I tie my shoe the wrong way, it might be a fine or a flag. It is what it is. You have to understand that."

Beckham's evident annoyance with the Vikings came a week after he suffered a meltdown against Washington during a physical battle with cornerback Josh Norman. While he broke out for a season-high 121 yards on seven catches, Beckham slammed his helmet against a kicking net during an emotional stretch that included several outbursts on the Giants sideline: 

Beckham's hotheaded reputation has now overshadowed Big Blue's 2-2 start to the season, and his teammates have called for the 23-year-old to control his temper and be more cognizant of how his actions affect the team. 

"He has got to be aware," quarterback Eli Manning said, per NJ Advance Media's James Kratch. "They're looking for him, and he has got to play smart. We can't afford to do anything. They're going to call him, and he brought that on himself."

If Beckham heeds Manning's advice, he should have a chance to get back on track in Week 5. 

The Giants are set to clash with the Green Bay Packers, who have allowed a 29th-ranked 307.3 passing yards per game to date after Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs and Detroit Lions wideout Marvin Jones each gashed them prior to their Week 4 bye.