Mettenberger: Grab not Beckham best

ByDan Graziano ESPN logo
Wednesday, December 3, 2014

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who used to throw passes to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. when the two played college football together at LSU, had a slightly different reaction to the New York Giants rookie's now-famous, one-handed touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago.

"He's had better," Mettenberger said Wednesday on a conference call with reporters who cover the Giants. "Both him and [Miami Dolphins and former LSU receiver] Jarvis Landry. That was not a surprise for anyone who's been around those two guys for the last three years."

Mettenberger and the 2-10 Titans host the 3-9 Giants on Sunday in Nashville, and Mettenberger said he expected to be in touch with his former college teammate before then. But they're unlikely to talk about the catch, since it seems they should both harbor memories of practice catches that left that one in the dust.

"Trust me," Mettenberger said. "If you could get your hands on some of the practice film from LSU, you would see what I'm talking about."

Beckham's catch impressed Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, a receiver many consider the best in the game right now.

"Everybody knows the catch he made a couple weeks ago," Johnson said Wednesday. "[It] was the craziest I've seen ever, probably.

"...I've never seen a catch like that. Extension and all, that's crazy."

Mettenberger, who left last Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with a sprained throwing shoulder, was limited in practice Wednesday but said he will be OK to play Sunday.

"I'm fine. I'm definitely playing this week," he said.

ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein and Paul Kuharsky contributed to this report.

Related Video