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Inside the Beef Between Eli Apple and Giants DBs; Landon Collins Publicly Calls Him a Cancer

The New York Giants are imploding from within. The on-field disaster is the least of their problems now. There is now infighting among the defensive backfield. Star safety Landon Collins publicly called fellow defensive back Eli Apple, a “cancer.” In an interview with ESPN New York Radio Collins said:

There’s one corner that has to establish [himself] and needs to grow, and we all know who that is. That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. Besides the other two guys — DRC and Jackrabbit — I love those two guys. They play hard. They love what they do. But, that first pick, I don’t think … he’s a cancer.

Scathing words from Collins and he said them publicly. This has been brewing all season long. Apple has grown distant from his defensive teammates starting around the bye week. He was also given permission by the team to miss the first practice after the bye and some of his teammates were not okay with that.

Apple’s mother Annie underwent brain surgery during the season and that undoubtedly has had an impact on him and could explain some of his issues with his teammates. Not sure how much of that he communicated with his team, not that he needs to, but a football team is close and when people fail to communicate problems arise. Also, according to Dan Duggan of NJ.com, Apple has been dealing with other family issues off the field. Athletes are creatures of habit and anything that is problematic off the field, if not contained, will linger and seep into performance.

Eli Apple’s play on the field has been below average, and that’s being kind. Apple was a first round pick (#10) in 2016 and a lot of his teammates resent that. First round picks are given ample opportunities to succeed when later picks aren’t. If a first round guy doesn’t work hard or is perceived to not be a hard worker by his teammates, it’s the kiss of death. Look at Collins’ comments closely. He never refers to Apple by name and calls him “that first pick.”

For his part Collins said he has tried to help and mentor Apple but he has not been receptive. It should also be noted it was Collins, not Apple who made this all public to the media, which is problematic, what happened to keep things in-house? With a new regime set to take over here in the coming weeks, Collins is a sure bet to be back with the Giants. Apple, on the other hand, it will depend on what happens in offseason.

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