EAST RUTHERFORD -- It would have been a good time to be a fly on the wall.

Or rather on the brick in the restricted VIP area behind the end zone of the Giants practice field at Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

Odell Beckham's agent, Zeke Sandhu, and Giants associate general manager Kevin Abrams stood side-by-side and chatted for the majority of the team's two-hour practice Thursday morning.

The conversation comes against the backdrop of:

Giants co-owner John Mara declaring last week that the team was ready to begin

Mara telling WFAN radio that there is no timetable for getting a deal done because it "depends how reasonable they want to be," in reference to Beckham and Sandhu.

A report from ESPN on Thursday morning that

Beckham's mother, Heather Van Norman, also was in the crowd for practice. Beckham's father, Odell Sr., was at practice over the weekend.

Beckham has been a full-time and full-speed participant in training camp through the first seven practices of camp, even as he comes off surgery to repair a shattered ankle.

Arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, he is scheduled to play on the fifth-year team option for $8.5 million in 2018. That pales in comparison to other young stars at his position around the NFL.

Parameters for his contract could include topping Mike Evans' $55 million guaranteed (most for a wide receiver) and Antonio Brown's average annual salary of $17 million (most for a wide receiver).

Abrams is thought by some to be the general manager in waiting for the Giants. He is the salary cap guru for boss Dave Gettleman and has been with the organization since 1999, recently earning a promotion after serving as interim general manager following Jerry Reese's firing in 2017.

"He's always been an invaluable part of this organization," Mara said. "He handles all our contract negotiations, does some scouting for us, is just a very stable voice to have back there. Stepped in very ably last year at the end of the season and he's very important to us."

Media not affiliated with the NFL are not permitted inside the VIP area during practice.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.