SmashMouth

Eli Apple was sitting at home on Tuesday when his agent called him with some news.

The New York Giants had traded the talented young cornerback to the New Orleans Saints. After two-plus years with the team that drafted him in the first round in 2016, Apple was on the move.

“I was very excited,” Apple said Wednesday about the trade. “It’s a great organization here, a lot of great players, too. So, I just can’t wait to come in and contribute.”



By joining the Saints, the 23-year-old Apple gets a fresh start to his career after a turbulent run with the Giants. He played well as a rookie, but then was in and out of the lineup in 2017. Then, near the end of the season, Giants safety Landon Collins called Apple a “cancer, Apple had a confrontation with coaches at practice and the Giants suspended him for "a pattern of behavior that is conduct detrimental to the team.”

Apple has bounced back a bit this season, starting the fives games for which he was healthy. When asked if the trade surprised him, Apple said, “Nothing surprises me anymore,” and he acknowledged that a change of scenery could help him.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say I needed it, but it’s great to have one right now,” he said.

Apple flew out of Newark in time to arrive in New Orleans on Tuesday night, and on Wednesday morning, he was at Saints practice with his new teammates.

Trading Apple wasn’t the only big move the Giants made this week. On Wednesday, they traded 2016 All-Pro defensive tackle to the Lions, so it’s clear the Giants are in the midst of a rebuild, one in which they felt comfortable parting with Apple.


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