Every media session this spring and summer followed the same line of questioning. So did Sterling Shepard’s answers.
Question: How will Odell Beckham Jr.’s absence change things for you?
His answer: It won’t change anything.
He was wrong. It changed plenty — in a positive way.
Shepard, now 26, suddenly became the elder statesman in the wide receivers room — especially with newcomer Golden Tate suspended for the first four games of the season after violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy — the player the other receivers looked at to carry the load.
“You can kind of sense his presence, his mentality, the way he pushes all of us each and every day and every play, and he shows up on Sundays and makes big plays for us,” tight end Evan Engram said.