The Cincinnati Bengals are more than willing to re-up with cornerback Eli Apple.
Fans could have guessed as much given Apple’s superb performances over the last two seasons when ushered into starting duty due to injuries both years.
Still, it’s nice to hear an update from coaches on the topic. According to CLNS Media’s Mike Petraglia, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said on Tuesday that the Bengals are open to bringing back Apple depending on how much interest the market gives the veteran.
It’s hard to say if the market will show much interest in Apple, though. He’s 27 and played each of the last two years on one-year deals and as fans know, dramatically exceeded expectations. But teams might have doubts that he’s able to do that outside of Anarumo’s system and he’s known to stir up drama when he logs online.
The Bengals do need help at cornerback though, with Chidobe Awuzie rehabbing an injury and Cam Taylor-Britt positioned to start. It’s a position they will hit multiple times, and one of those could be bringing back a veteran who knows the system and organization well.
1 free agent the New Orleans Saints could target from each AFC North team: Bengals safety Vonn Bell is another former Saints who makes sense for a reunion
We’re wrapping up our survey of the 2023 free agency landscape with the AFC North, where a couple of quarterbacks and some former New Orleans Saints players might make sense if the right situation presents itself.
Previous entries in this series have catalogued the AFC East, AFC West, and AFC South as well as the NFC North, NFC East, and NFC West. It’s given us a good idea of which players could soon be available and what areas the Saints may be able to address in free agency next month. For now, though, we’re keeping our attention focused squarely on the teams hailing from the AFC North:
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple is one of the more polarizing figures in the modern NFL, a role he’s embraced while otherwise turning his on-field career around with a perennial contender.
But the overblown social media narratives about Apple and little else should dissuade the Bengals from bringing him back again.
Apple’s name doesn’t come up majorly in Bengals’ free-agent discussions. After all, he played last year on a one-year deal worth $3.75 million and he’s shoved aside for big names like Jessie Bates, Germaine Pratt, Hayden Hurst and Vonn Bell, to name a few.
Yet there are plenty of reasons to argue Apple should be a priority on the same level of those names.
For one, Apple’s good. The silly impression-farming “lowlight” videos that make the rounds on Twitter aren’t real life. Not anymore, at least. Apple has thrived in the Cincinnati culture and Lou Anarumo’s scheme. He stepped in for 660 coverage snaps in 2021, his first year with the team, and let up 39 receptions with two interceptions, per PFF. In 2022, 585 with 41 receptions.
In 2021, Apple wasn’t supposed to see a ton of work while Trae Waynes was the supposed No. 1. Same story in 2022, where he was going to cede snaps to rookie Cam Taylor-Britt eventually before No. 1 Chidobe Awuzie went down for the season.
Notice a trend? Apple’s not supposed to be the guy, yet he’s stepped in admirably twice, including effectively being the No. 1 for a chunk of last season. That’s incredibly valuable to have in a backup and the least the Bengals should expect from the No. 10 pick in 2016.
Apple won’t have to be the guy next year if the trio of Awuzie-Taylor-Britt-Mike Hilton can stay healthy. But depth behind those three is scarily thin. Bringing back Apple reinforces that depth is superb fashion and has the added bonus of lessening the importance of drafting cornerback very early.
The team has spent this long developing him in the program, why stop now? It’s easy to forget he only turns 28 this summer. And did anyone mention Spotrac projects his next contract at an average annual value of $11.6 million over two years? That’s rather easy to justify with Taylor-Britt and Dax Hill on rookie deals in the secondary and Bates likely gone. There’s big value to the way he can mentor those younger guys, besides the other benefits.
Had a rare chance to talk to #Bengals CB Chidobe Awuzie about the future of the secondary. He said that he thinks Eli Apple has continuously met expectations, even when the lens is amplified.
Like it or not, Apple is a sheer embodiment of the revamped program in Cincinnati, too. He’s a standard-bearer for the slogan “It’s About Us.” The outside noise about him didn’t matter — what he does in the program and on the field does. Teammates and coaches gush about him at every turn. Even he admits joining the Bengals revived his love for football and got him back on track.
In a way, the outside noise about Apple is similar to that underdog role these Bengals want to keep using. He’s not supposed to be playing this well on a contender. But he is, and if he’s willing to play that third or fourth corner role and stay in the place that revived his career, the Bengals should do whatever it takes, especially at a position of such importance.
Eli Apple credits Bengals culture for helping turn his career around.
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple experienced a career renaissance of sorts since joining the team in 2021.
A journeyman corner who spent time with three teams after entering the league at 10th overall in 2016, Apple had the look of a former high-end pick who wouldn’t live up to his draft status.
But that changed in Cincinnati — fast.
Thrust into a big role in 2021, Apple played 660 coverage snaps but only let up 39 receptions with two interceptions, per PFF. And this year, Apple played 585 with 41 receptions allowed while suddenly every offense’s favorite target once Chidobe Awuzie went down for the season with an injury.
And Apple says the Bengals culture is what helped turn things around for him.
“It definitely brought back the love for the game feeling, especially leaving New Orleans the way I did,” Apple said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “And then going to the Panthers and not making it there and coming here and not knowing what to expect and then having the two best years ever in my life.
“Just toughness and grit,” Apple said. “It was nothing but football out here. Really re-connected with some of the guys from college. Realizing the strong survive. That’s the only way. You have to be strong. You have to be tough. Gritty. That’s the only way you get these wins and get these streaks. Consistent effort.”
For outsiders, it’s easy to cut up lowlight videos of Apple’s struggles in prior stops. But the film and numbers during his time in Cincinnati match up well with his thoughts here.
Apple isn’t going to demand big money on the free-agent market by any means, but he’s made it clear he would like to be back. The Bengals might just work with that idea again because depth behind Awuzie and Cam Taylor-Britt is so thin.
Either way, Apple’s journey is yet another strong mark for the Bengals culture for fans and potential players who might consider joining the team.
The Cincinnati Bengals did their share of talking in the build-up to Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, and all that bulletin-board material is coming back to bite them since that 23-20 loss.
Ahead of the game, Apple trolled Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs about Buffalo’s divisional round defeat, which — along with Mike Hilton’s “Burrowhead” talk — rubbed the Chiefs the wrong way. Apple actually played a solid game on Sunday, allowing just 17 yards, but he was called for a holding penalty that gave the Chiefs a first down in the fourth quarter.
eli apple critical holding call on third down, negating a sack and giving the chiefs a first down with 10:00 to play in the fourth quarter of the afc title game. hate to see it. you really do. pic.twitter.com/3N4Eit5ASX
Valdes-Scantling was asked about that penalty in an interview with Mitch Holthus, and Valdes-Scantling said with a smile, “I was just whooping him all game. That was just another play where he couldn’t cover me well enough.”
To be fair to Apple, he didn’t really get whooped all game, and the Chiefs ended up punting despite that penalty. But the comments did show what the Chiefs think about the Bengals cornerback. A solid statistical game was never going to save him from the blowback if the Bengals lost.
Fans also had thoughts on Valdes-Scantling’s comments.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ Eli Apple has established himself as a villain to many playmakers around the NFL. Some of his most recent antics involved pestering the Buffalo Bills’ Stefon Diggs after Apple’s Bengals eliminated Buffalo in the divisional round.
The morning after the Bengals’ quest for a Lombardi Trophy officially ended, Diggs fired off a rather curious set of tweets. While he never directly mentions Apple or the Bengals, it’s hard not to think that was what Diggs had on his mind.
And one final joyous message with the “heart-hands” emoji — a unifying Bills symbol that became famous in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s scary collapse from cardiac arrest.
Oh yeah, Diggs was feeling himself Monday. I think it’s more than fair to say his joy was likely about the Bengals and Apple.
Ex-New York Giants Eli Apple and Kadarius Toney remained true to form on Sunday night and the post-game trolling of Apple was relentless.
The New York Giants and their legions of fans found themselves in a precarious position on Sunday night.
They were forced to decide on who to root for in the AFC Championship Game: Eli Apple and the Cincinnati Bengals or Kadarius Toney and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Apple, of course, has been very public about his disdain for Giants fans. His career in New York quickly faltered after being selected 10th overall in 2016. He fell out of favor with his teammates and coaches and was shipped out of East Rutherford after less than two seasons.
Similarly, Toney drew the ire of Giants fans for his inability to stay on the field. His strange antics also rubbed some the wrong way and like Apple, Toney’s stay in East Rutherford was short-lived. The 20th overall pick in 2021 was sent to Kansas City earlier this season.
Ultimately, Giants fans got the last laugh on Sunday night as both Toney and Apple remained true to form.
Eli Apple talked a lot of trash and this was the result.
As our Robert Zeglinski wrote last week: The Cincinnati Bengals were playing with fire with all that trash talk ahead of their AFC title game rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs definitely got their revenge. That included a live Instagram in which safety Juan Thornhill said he was going to smoke a victory cigar in honor of Apple.
Yep. This is what happens when your team loses after all that trash talk (WARNING: NSFW language ahead!):
"Eli Apple… Imma smoke one for you" 😅👀
Chiefs players not holding back after eliminating Bengals
This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Robert Zeglinski is filling in for Andy Nesbitt.
I would never dare tell the Cincinnati Bengals to fix what isn’t broken.
Joe Burrow and friends wouldn’t be playing in their second consecutive AFC title game if they weren’t confident. Heck, let’s be honest. The defending conference champs have a shot at Super Bowl redemption specifically because they think they’re better than everyone.
But I’m not sure this cocky mentality is the smartest idea heading into a Championship Sunday rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs. You know, because the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes? The likely two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes?
Sure, the Bengals beat the Chiefs in Kansas City last year to reach Super Bowl 56, humbling Mahomes in the process. So they have every reason to believe they can dismantle the Chiefs piece by piece once again this Sunday.
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t note that there appeared to be an element of surprise in last year’s AFC Championship.
While beating them twice (and again this year), I think the Bengals of late happened to catch the Chiefs off guard. Taken a step further, I think the Chiefs — who blew an 18-point lead to Cincinnati last January — overlooked their orange and black-striped opponents. Hey, we’re all human. Sometimes you let your foot off the gas. It happens.
If the Bengals, who have seemingly been talking non-stop trash about the Chiefs since tearing up the Bills last weekend, want to replicate those results, they’d be wise to dial it back a bit. Because the Chiefs of this year, with the legendary Mahomes absolutely locked in on playoff redemption, will do anything but gloss over Cincinnati.
The experienced Chiefs wouldn’t dare make that same mistake again, and the Bengals are just putting a bigger target on their backs as a result.
And, hoo boy, calling Arrowhead Stadium “Burrowhead” … on camera? It’s almost like the Bengals are just asking the Chiefs, who have actually climbed the NFL’s Super Bowl mountain, to humiliate them and get vengeance.
Better than anyone, the Bengals should know they aren’t without flaws. They fell short of ultimate glory last February and were rather quiet after the fact. You’d think humility would be the name of the game after such a crushing defeat. It hasn’t been. Giving the Chiefs all of this bulletin board material before a new playoff battle just doesn’t seem wise at all.
If I were a Cincinnati player, I’d simply want to keep my head down to help hoist a Lombardi Trophy. Instead, all the Bengals seemingly have the desire to do is poke the NFL’s fire-breathing dragon in Mahomes. If this is their way of trying to “get in his head,” I don’t think such a plan will work because I’m not sure that’s possible.
If the Bengals aren’t careful with their arrogance before their AFC title game rematch this weekend, Mahomes is more than capable of burning them to a crisp in response.
Quick hits: NBA All-Star starters are here … NFL awards predictions … Tom Brady lost a lot of weight last year … and more.
The Cincinnati Bengals went into Sunday’s AFC divisional round matchup against the Bills with a chip on their shoulders. They thought the NFL wanted to have a lucrative neutral site game between the Chiefs and Bills, and they were thrilled to spoil those plans.
Eli Apple has particularly enjoyed watching the Bills’ drama unfold since Buffalo’s loss, and in true Eli Apple fashion, he has trolled Stefon Diggs on social media.
But one tweet, in particular, caught the attention of NFL fans and Shaq Lawson, and come Tuesday, Apple felt it was necessary to clarify his tweet. On Monday night, Apple tweeted to Diggs, “Cancun on 3.” While it was a reference to Patrick Beverly’s trash talk from a few years ago (a way of saying enjoy your offseason), the number 3 and the heart-hands emoji had many seeing a veiled connection to Damar Hamlin.
Backlash over the possible connection to Hamlin was enough to have Apple explaining himself. He denied that he tried to show any disrespect to Hamlin or his situation.
All love thoughts prayers and concerns to @HamlinIsland as he continues to recover from that tragic incident. Never would I make light of that scary unfortunate scene. This game is truly a dangerous risk to our bodies mind and spirit. Nothing but love to all my football brothers
