Tom Brady, Odell Beckham Jr. Trade Jerseys After Giants’ 17-9 Preseason Finale Win Over Patriots

Following the New York Giants‘ 17-9 victory over the New England Patriots in Thursday night’s preseason finale, quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. met at midfield and exchanged signed jerseys as a sign of mutual respect.

Tom Brady, Odell Beckham Jr. Trade Jerseys

The pair had first discussed the gesture in 2015, with Brady stating: “I promised him a jersey and forgot.”

“Any chance I can get a signed jersey?” Beckham, 23, asked the veteran Pats QB last year.

That’s why the young wideout joked with Brady on Thursday that the jersey must have been lost in the mail.

After Beckham handed Brady his signed Giants jersey, the 39-year-old QB had his jersey delivered to Beckham behind the scenes, since team policy doesn’t permit him to do it on the field.

“He’s a great young player and I love watching him,” Brady said of Beckham. “It’s the kind of things you do these days in the NFL.”

The Giants receiver was equally thrilled to talk to the New England star.

“I was just talking to him. Any time you get a chance to talk to somebody like that, he’s made the playoffs for a very long time,” said Beckham. “It’s pretty cool. It’s fun to be able to sit out here and watch him. Surprised he’s in [for the entire first half], but it’s a fun experience.”

With a four-game suspension for his role in the ‘Deflate-gate’ scandal starting in just a few days, Brady only played the first half of Thursday’s game.

Brady completed 16 of 26 passes for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception as the Pats (3-1) just missed out on a perfect preseason.

“I was happy I was able to play as much as I did,” the QB said. “It was a good opportunity to get out there and play. We did a decent job of moving the ball, but we turned it over too many times.”

The two-time NFL MVP begins his suspension Saturday for his involvement in the use of deflated footballs during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015. He won’t be eligible to rejoin the active roster until until Oct. 3. Until then, backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start for New England.

“I haven’t thought about it much,” Brady said. “I always take it as it comes and do the best that I could do.”

The Patriots begin the regular season on Sept. 11 at Arizona, while the Giants open at Dallas.

Thursday’s game marked Brady’s first preseason finale start since 2011, and his absence will mark the first regular-season games he’s missed since 2008, when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in the season opener.

Ryan Nassib threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King for the Giants and set up Randy Bullock’s 25-yard field goal. Logan Thomas tossed a 17-yard fourth quarter TD to Roger Lewis Jr. after New England got a 32-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski earlier in the quarter, thus cutting the lead to 10-9.

King, who was on the Giants’ practice squad last year, should have a roster spot guaranteed after catching four passes for 80 yards and his third touchdown of the preseason.

Brady is not permitted to have contact with the Patriots or use team facilities during his suspension.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 01: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots talks with Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on September 1, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)