Giants suspend CB Apple for ‘detrimental behavior’

One day after being called a cancer on the team, Eli Apple was suspended by the New York Giants for the regular-season finale against the Washington Redskins.

Interim general manager Kevin Abrams said the second-year cornerback was suspended for “a pattern of behavior that is conduct detrimental to the team.”

According to multiple reports, Apple was angry that he was assigned to practice with the scout team. He got into an argument with cornerbacks coach Tim Walton and had to be restrained, according to NorthJersey.com.

Apple refused to answer reporters’ questions, excusing himself to go use the bathroom.

On a New York radio program on Tuesday, veteran Landon Collins was asked about which changes should be made to the defensive backfield next season.

“There’s only just one corner that … needs to grow, and we all know who that is,” Collins said. “That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. Besides, the other two guys, (Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie) and (Janoris Jenkins), I love those two guys. They play hard. They love what they do.

“But that first pick … he’s a cancer.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Collins offered an apology, posting over social media that he will “never stop supporting” the cornerback.

Collins spoke with coach Steve Spagnuolo and Apple, and later took to Twitter on Wednesday.

“I met with Coach Spags and Eli this morning and I apologized for the things I said yesterday. I never stop supporting my brother/teammate Eli and the rest of my teammates as we move forward,” Collins wrote. “Just want him to know I’m always here for him.”

The New York Post reports Apple will lose $66,984 for missing Sunday’s game.

Apple is in the second year of a four-year, $15.1 million rookie contract that was fully guaranteed, the Post reported. The Giants could nullify part of the contract because of the suspension.

Apple, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2016 draft, did not play a single defensive snap in Sunday’s 23-0 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He has found himself inactive multiple times this season and come under fire for using Twitter during a game on Dec. 10.

Per NJ.com, Apple was benched for the first three series in the team’s fifth game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers, reportedly for talking back to a coach at practice. Also, Apple threatened to leave the facility after being targeted in film review by teammates following his effort in a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9.

Collins has said that he offered support of Apple throughout the season, a notion that Apple dismissed the following day by telling reporters that he hadn’t spoken to Collins. With the implication that he was a liar, Collins reportedly had to be restrained by his teammates from going after Apple, per NJ.com.