Eli Apple’s tenure with the New York Giants is all but over. The Giants suspended the cornerback for the last game of the season, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.” Apple has been mired in conflict with his teammates and the coaching staff all season long. By suspending him, the Giants are making it clear they don’t want him around the facilities. We wrote about Landon Collins referring to him as a “cancer” here. A new regime (head coach and gm) will take over early in 2018 and it looks like they’ll have some options in terms of getting rid of Apple.
The Giants can simply cut Apple. Had they not suspended him, this would have been a serious cap hit. The Giants can now void the final two years and salary he is owed. Instead of eating about $9M in dead money, and paying out about $4.3 million in combined base salary for 2018 and 2019. Now, they are only on the hook for about $4.6 million in dead money if the guarantees are voided. Advantage Giants.
If they want to just simply get rid of Apple and not deal with anything beyond this point they could simply waive him. Again the cap hit is not as significant had they not suspended him.
The Giants can also trade Apple. Now that he’s been suspended there is less financial risk to be assumed from a trade partner. The Giants may want to get something back in exchange for Apple, though teams know this and will be less likely to give the Giants exactly what they want. Again they could get something close because the acquiring team would be assuming less risk. But why help the Giants if you don’t have to.
This is a sad end for the #10 pick of the 2016 Draft. He is clearly having a tough time adjusting to life in the NFL. He is not mature enough to deal with the ups and downs of professional athlete life. Apple has been dealing with a lot both on the field and off. The latter of which we detailed here. Looks like the young man needs to get a handle on his life and family, decide if being a pro athlete is what he wants. He was a top 10 pick and has talent. His next chance, if granted, will almost certainly be his last.