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A tumultuous and disappointing second NFL season for Eli Apple came to an end Wednesday when the New York Giants suspended him “for a pattern of behavior that is detrimental to the team,” per a statement from interim general manager Kevin Abrams.
Eli Apple’s suspension today was due in part to his refusal to take the field with the scout team, source says. @RapSheet says he then got into it with a coach.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) December 27, 2017
Eli Apple had some sort of argument with coaches at practice Wednesday, including CB coach Tim Walton, sources told myself and Dan Graziano. This was surely part of a "pattern of behavior that is conduct detrimental to the team" but not the only reason... https://t.co/nkNi6voYel
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 27, 2017
Eli Apple's suspension should void his remaining two years of guaranteed money, which cuts his cap hit in half if he's released. #Giants https://t.co/0hzOT8Z3Cn
— James Kratch (@JamesKratch) December 27, 2017
As others have rightly pointed out via Twitter, Eli Manning ran the scout team without complaint a few weeks ago when Ben McAdoo unceremoniously benched him in favor of Geno Smith.
Apple, the team’s 2016, first-round pick, had previously been benched for disciplinary reasons and left inactive for several other games. He played in 11 games this season.
Last Sunday, Apple was active but played no defensive snaps. This week, safety Landon Collins called him “a cancer” on the team, a term for which he has since apologized.
Collins and Apple both met with interim coach Steve Spagnuolo on Wednesday before the suspension was announced.
“(Landon and I) had a quick conversation this morning and then I had a quick conversation with Eli,” Spagnuolo said. “And then all three of us had a really good conversation and it was very productive and I’ll just leave it at that. It’s between them and they were really great.”
While Collins apologized for the use of the word “cancer,” this seems like the Giants basically — and extremely belatedly — agreeing with him. It has to lend even more credence to the idea that Apple may not have a future with the Giants.