Other Eli defends angry mom
LONDON — Eli Apple saw the first few Twitter posts by his mother, Annie, followed by a few more.
“I was like, ‘ OK, she might go on a rant’,’’ Eli said Sunday after the Giants beat the Rams, 17-10, at Twickenham Stadium. “She’s her own person and she’ll do whatever she’s going to do.’’
The rookie cornerback found himself in an unusual and potentially difficult spot this week. His mother, via social media, ripped into Giants coowner John Mara for a comment he made about why he stuck with kicker Josh Brown despite Brown’s history of domestic violence. Mara said “He admitted to us he’d abused his wife in the past. What’s a little unclear is the extent of that.’’
Berating your son’s boss is not the usual way to go, but Annie Apple had a personal stake in this. She revealed on Twitter she is a victim of domestic violence and, in an emotional and shockingly detailed article she penned for SI.com, she passionately explained why Mara’s words and the Giants’ stance was so harmful.
“The comments ... were insensitive, dismissive and callous,’’ Annie Apple wrote. “How are you a so-called champion of domestic violence but lack basic compassion for a victim? Yes, this man signs my son’s checks as I’ve been reminded on Twitter. Mr. Mara owns the New York Giants. He doesn’t own Annie Apple. Wrong is wrong. And Mr. Mara’s comments were unapologetically wrong and hit at a raw place.’’
This put her son in the middle of a controversy he did not start but was pulled into.
“[I] know she’s very vocal about that type of situation and that topic is very important to her, so I can understand where she’s coming from,’’ Eli said. “At the same time I know that in my position I just have to do my part, just play football and do what I can do.
“She has a voice and she’s gonna use it no matter what. I love her for that. She’s a unique woman and she’s always going to speak up no matter what. I can’t really control that so I just have to do what I have to do, which is play football.’’
Asked if he has discussed this difficult situation with his mother, Eli said, “She’s a little upset at everybody right now. I’m probably just going to give her her space a little bit. Hopefully she feels better after this [victory].’’