IRVING, Texas — The Cowboys won the game, but “The Catch” is still a touchy subject around here almost a year later.
Not only do they want to act as if Odell Beckham Jr.’s miraculous one-handed grab against them last November never happened, but mention it to the primary defender victimized on the play and watch the expletives fly.
“You’re pissing me off with these questions,” Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr barked at The Post on Wednesday when asked about Beckham and the play heading into their personal rematch Sunday night at AT&T Stadium.
Carr is nursing an injured hand, so that might account for some of his grumpiness. But the veteran corner more likely is nursing injured pride after more questions about being posterized on national TV at MetLife Stadium on the play that started Beckham on the road to superstardom.
Dallas ended up winning the game, 31-28, but that fact seems all but forgotten. The only moment from that game that still lingers — and will for a long time — is Beckham practically reaching to the sky to haul in a 43-yard Eli Manning TD grab down the right sideline.
As well as it being eye-popping, Beckham added to the degree of difficulty by making the grab in double coverage (safety Barry Church was closing fast with Carr) while being interfered with by a falling Carr.
No wonder Carr didn’t want to talk about it Wednesday, grimacing and groaning as soon as Beckham’s name was mentioned.
“I’m sick of talking about it a year later,” said Carr, an eight-year veteran who came to Dallas from the Chiefs three years ago. “It’s old. I don’t want to talk about no more, but y’all [media] just keep bringing it up, though. I’ll just go out and handle it, though. I’ve been through a lot.”
At least Carr gets credit for facing the cameras Wednesday when he knew the primary — and perhaps only — topic would be Beckham. The same couldn’t be said for Church, a six-year pro who was nowhere to be seen in the Cowboys’ locker room during the media access period.
After a handful of questions about the play, Carr grudgingly credited Beckham.
“It was a great grab,” Carr said. “Kudos to him. I just bounced back and continue to play. That’s all I do. And answer these questions a year later.”
Cowboys coach Jason Garrett wasn’t eager to relive ‘‘The Catch,’’ either. He only mentioned it in passing when asked Wednesday about Beckham and prodded for an assessment of the Giants’ second-year sensation.
“Oh, I just think he’s a really good player,” Garrett said. “He’s a really good route runner. He obviously can make a lot of plays both down the field and make plays over his head like we’ve all seen.
“He’s dynamic with the ball in his hands running with it after he makes the catch, and he’s just one of those guys who seems to be really productive,” Garrett added. “He’s come through a lot over the course of his short career. To have the production he had over the course of 12 games last year was pretty impressive. He’s a damn good football player.”
Carr agreed, offering high praise for Beckham just as long as you didn’t ask him about “The Catch.”
“He’s a guy with exceptional ability and a big catch radius,” Carr said. “And he’s a small guy that plays big.”
As Carr learned all too vividly — up close and personal — nine months ago at the Meadowlands.
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