STRANGE FRUIT
Apple plays, but not on defense
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The strange Eli Apple saga continues to get stranger.
The second-year cornerback was in uniform for Sunday’s 23-0 loss to the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium, but did not receive any snaps on defense. Last week, Apple played 60 of the 68 defensive snaps against the Eagles and it seemed he was getting back in the good graces of the coaching staff. It appeared interim coach Steve Spagnuolo was trying to salvage something in these last games for Apple, the team’s firstround pick in 2016. Well, scratch that theory. Apple played on special teams but was a no-show on defense, with the Giants going with street free agents Brandon Dixon and Darryl Morris ahead of him.
“He was going to get in there on some dime situations,’’ Spagnuolo said. “The guys that have been in there have been playing together for a little bit, the continuity has been good, so we just kinda of left it at that. Probably need to get him in there.’’
Apple was not very talkative on the subject.
“It was a coaches’ decision, that’s all I have to say,’’ he said.
Rookie tight end Evan Engram has been one of the few bright spots in this darkest of seasons for the Giants, but he could not make it out of the first quarter against the Cardinals. He stretched on a deep pass from Eli Manning, sandwiched between safeties Antoine Bethea and
Budda Baker. Bethea came away with an interception and Engram left the field with an injury that was first called an issue with his abdominal, but later changed to a rib injury.
LT Ereck Flowers after getting called for two holding penalties on one fourth-quarter series (one was declined by the Cardinals) came off the field and had some angry words for referee John Parry. “He let his emotions get to him, but it worked out,’’ Spagnuolo said.
This is the first time in the Super Bowl era that the Giants, Redskins, Cowboys, Packers and 49ers all missed the playoffs in the same season. The last time it happened was 1964. … Rookie QB Davis Webb was inactive for the 15th time in 15 games.
WR Sterling Shepard was forced out in the fourth quarter with a neck injury. He said he hurt his neck earlier in the game but tried to play through it. “I just kept going, and then on that last play my head went straight to the ground, just kind of jammed my neck again,’’ Shepard said. “I should be alright.’’ Spagnuolo won a replay challenge in the third quarter contesting a completed pass to Larry Fitzgerald. The ball hit the ground. … Rookie OL Chad Wheeler started at a tackle-eligible, lining up outside of RT Bobby Hart on the first play.