After a playoff appearance last year, the Giants are expected to be contenders this season, but on-field expectations are being overshadowed by front-office distractions. NY1's Zack Tawatari filed the following report.

In East Rutherford, the Giants' blue-collar culture is on full display.

Expectations couldn't be higher for this talented group, but the New York Football Giants know that the road to the Super Bowl begins in the heat of the dog days of summer. 

"We haven't seem them for six weeks. So we're starting really, like, we do the offseason program. We're going to start small, and we're going to build our way up," said Giants head coach Ben McAdoo. "It's not where you start in this business, it's where yoiu finish."

"There's some talented guys out there. We'll see if everybody can come together as a group, as a team, as an offense and put it all together," said Giants quarterback Eli Manning. "I think there is the possibility of being a special group, a talented group. But it's all going to come down to how we perform, how we practice."

"I'm just ready for this season to get here, this team, to bond with these guys," said Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. "We have an incredible group, so it should be a lot of fun."

And on a team filled with stars, none are bigger than Beckham. Beckham has proven to be a premier NFL wide receiver, but his contract has, in his own words, been the elephant in the room. He'll be the 64th-highest paid receiver in the league this year, but the Giants control Beckham's contract for at least two more years. 

"In due time, in God's timing, it'll be there. I can't really worry about it. I can come out, work, and get better every single day, prove myself every day on why I believe what I believe and why I think what I think, and that's it," Beckham said. "Everybody has an opinion in the world. Not just this, everybody has an opinion on something. That's not something I really get caught up on."

Beckham was asked whether or not he thinks it's an appropriate time to be talking about his contract, with the Giants just starting camp today. He responded, "If I talk it's a distraction. If I don't talk, it's a distraction." Well, either way, you can expect the story line round Beckham's contract will be something to talk about for the next two weeks.