Criticism Nearly Caused Eli Apple Walkout

From a cornerback turbulence standpoint, the 2017 Giants are having one of the worst seasons in memory. Now, a third player appears to have been involved in an internal dust-up.

Following the one-game suspensions of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins earlier this season, Eli Apple was at odds with the Giants for a short period.

Apple, who has not been active for the past two Giants games, considered walking out of the team’s facility recently after pointed criticism came his way from coaches and teammates, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.

A film session of Big Blue’s embarrassing loss in San Francisco led to harsh critiques coming Apple’s way, mostly regarding his effort level, per Schwartz. And the 2016 first-round pick “did not handle it well at all.” Schwartz reports Apple was so dismayed by this he twice said he was ready to walk out of the facility. A source informed Schwartz Apple endured harsher critiques than any other player in that meeting.

While a discussion with Ben McAdoo led to the second-year corner not creating a scene by leaving the building, Schwartz reports Apple’s recent actions played a part in the Giants deactivating him the past two weeks.

Apple did not report to the team facility for the next two days, but he was excused because his mother was undergoing brain surgery, Schwartz reports. McAdoo said the practice absences were the reason he wasn’t on the field against the Chiefs. The coach also said a lack of game-speed readiness, due to light practices on a short week, led to Apple being a healthy scratch against the Redskins.

Earlier this season, the Giants benched Apple for multiple series during a loss to the Chargers. After the game, the Ohio State product made comments about being the scapegoat for a Giants culture that needed repairing. Schwartz reports that comment did not register well with teammates or coaches.

Apple started 11 games for the Giants last season and seven in his second campaign.