Jets' Darron Lee comes to Eli Apple's defense after Giants corner labeled a 'cancer'

Jets linebacker Darron Lee knows a thing or two about Giants cornerback Eli Apple. The two played together at Ohio State, built up a close friendship, and still keep in touch to this day.

So what does Lee remember about Apple as a teammate? In the wake of Giants safety Landon Collins labeling him a team "cancer?"

"Eli was a great teammate," Lee said. "That's all I've got to say on that subject ... He's a great teammate to me. So I can't speak for anything going on right now."

It's been one thing after another for Apple, a first-round pick in 2016, this year. He's clashed with the coaching staff, been a healthy scratch from games four times, sniped at teammates, and nearly bolted from the team's facility after he was criticized in a film session.

Maybe the worst part of it all has been his ongoing feud with Collins, a respected leader on the Giants defense. The two had a back-and-forth in the media in mid-December, and things boiled over Tuesday when Collins called Apple a "cancer" in a radio interview with ESPN radio.

"There's one corner that ... he needs to grow up, and we all know who that is," Collins said, clearly referring to Apple. "That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. The other two guys, [Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie] and [Janoris Jenkins], I love those guys. They play hard, they love what they do. But that first [-round] pick, I don't think ... he's a cancer."

Apple declined to address Collins' comments to the media on Wednesday, but did tell a group of reporters "I gotta take a sh--" on his first pass through the locker room.

Not long after, Apple was suspended for Week 17 by the Giants, who said Apple was notified of the suspension in a meeting with interim general manager Kevin Abrams and interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Lee, who spoke before Apple was suspended, said he and Apple are still close, but he hasn't talked to the embattled cornerback about his recent troubles. Lee hinted he wouldn't talk to Apple until the offseason.

Giants suspend Apple

Jalin Marshall, a practice squad receiver with the Jets who also played with Apple at Ohio State, opened up slightly more.

"Me and Eli had all good memories from what I remember," Marshall said. "Only time we had any confusion was when we'd go out and practice. That's all I can say about that. Eli has always been a high-character guy. Always did the right things. Always professional about his stuff. Whatever they've got going on is probably something internal that I don't know about.

"I've always known Eli to handle his business, whatever it was. He's always been a mature guy. Coach (Urban) Myer wasn't going to have any immature guys that didn't take care of their business on the field. That speaks for itself."

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.

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