Giants owner: 'I wish we had another dozen players like' Beckham

For as much controversy as Odell Beckham Jr. may create, the New York Giants are well aware of the rare talent they have at wide receiver.

Asked about his star pass-catcher in a radio appearance Thursday, Giants co-owner John Mara had plenty of good things to say about Beckham.

"I wish we had another dozen players like him," Mara told Mike Francesa of WFAN, according to Dan Duggan of NJ Advance Media. "He knows that he's got to mature and learn to control his emotions better. He's working on that. But one thing about that kid is that when he shows up at work, nobody works harder than he does. He's so competitive, even in practice. He wants to win so badly."

The latest distraction created by Beckham, regardless of whether the uproar was justified, stemmed from his decision to stay away from voluntary team workouts in the spring.

It eventually proved to be much ado about nothing, as the three-time Pro Bowler was back in the mix by the time mandatory minicamp rolled around. Denying a report that his absence was related to his desire for a new contract, Beckham explained that he was never considering a holdout and simply wanted to focus on his training and self-reflection in Los Angeles.

Either way, it's only a matter of time before Beckham receives a deal that puts him among or atop the NFL's list of highest-paid receivers.

The 24-year-old enters the 2017 campaign looking to build upon three consecutive seasons of 90-plus catches, at least 1,300 yards, and double-digit touchdowns to open his career.

His continued dominance at receiver - now complemented by the presence of free-agent addition Brandon Marshall - will undoubtedly have a significant impact on whether the Giants can emerge as a Super Bowl contender.