The Facts: Beckham wasn't at the Giants' practices this week, which didn't matter much since he hasn't been cleared to fully practice anyway. But he's getting "pretty close" according to HC Pat Shurmur. And that means a showdown between the Giants and Beckham could be getting pretty close too.

Diehards Line: So wrote SNY.tv's Ralph Vacchiano, who also conceded that may never happen. It's possible the Giants and Beckham truly have reached a peace, or at least a mutual understanding of where their contract negotiations are heading. But two months ago there was that report that Beckham "will not set foot on a field without a contract extension" -- a report Beckham has yet to publicly dismiss. Until he does, the possibility can't be ignored because a holdout is the last bit of leverage the star receiver has in his quest for a lucrative, new contract. Vacchiano went on to note that holdouts rarely work in the NFL because teams have too much built-in leverage in contract negotiations. But if Beckham is fully cleared in the next two months, in time for the start of training camp in late July -- which seems likely -- it's an open question whether that's a leverage play he's willing to wield. ... We'll obviously be watching closely.