Landon Collins: Giants teammate Eli Apple is 'a cancer'

6:05 PM ET

In a season when Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins were suspended by the New York Giants, Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins sees another cornerback as the team's biggest in-house problem.

When asked what changes should be made to the Giants secondary next year, Collins called Eli Apple "a cancer" during a Tuesday interview with Bob Wischusen on "The Michael Kay Show" on 98.7 ESPN New York.

Apple, a top-10 pick in last year's draft, didn't play a single defensive snap in Sunday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He has detractors in the locker room and throughout the organization because of his actions, which have earned him a spot on the bench multiple times this season.

"There's only just one corner that ... needs to grow, and we all know who that is," said Collins, one of the more popular players in the locker room. "That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. Besides, the other two guys, [Rodgers-Cromarie] and [Jenkins], I love those two guys. They play hard. They love what they do.

"But that first pick ... he's a cancer."

Collins, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a fractured forearm, even had to be restrained from confronting Apple in the past few weeks, according to a recent report by NJ Advance Media. Collins said last week during his weekly radio spot that Apple needed to grow up.

The bad blood between the two reached a boiling point when Collins told the media he's had several conversations with Apple about his struggles and handling himself in a professional manner. The following day, Apple denied the conversations ever occurred.

It's clear where Apple stands with his teammates. Despite being a first-round pick, his future appears to be in doubt.

Apple's made himself an easy target for the next general manager and coach. The Giants fired GM Jerry Reese and coach Ben McAdoo earlier this month.

Collins, meanwhile, is respected by his peers, inside and outside the locker room. He was selected as a Pro Bowl starter last week, but won't be playing in the game after fracturing his forearm against the Cardinals. He was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after undergoing surgery on Christmas.

Collins was hurt while making a tackle in the first half of Sunday's 23-0 loss to the Cardinals. He returned for the final play of the half, a kneel down.

After seeing the X-ray at halftime, Collins said he uncharacteristically shed tears.

"I don't remember the last time I even cried," Collins said after the game. "As soon as I saw the picture up on the X-ray, I just broke down. I couldn't hold in. I broke down."

The Giants (2-13) are playing for little more than pride on Sunday when they host the Washington Redskins. Still, it meant something for Collins to finish the season. He said the tears were because he realized he wouldn't be able to return to help his teammates.

Collins had played 47 straight games since being a second-round pick in 2015. He played through ankle injuries earlier this season and in recent weeks.

Linebacker Derrick Mathews was elevated from the practice squad to take Collins' roster spot.

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