Giants CB Eli Apple’s Mom Lashes Out At John Mara Over Josh Brown Comments

Annie Apple, the mother of New York Giants cornerback Eli Apple, was very upset when the team’s co-owner John Mara said the Giants re-signed kicker Josh Brown despite Brown’s admissions of abusing his wife.

Giants CB Eli Apple’s Mom Lashes Out At John Mara Over Josh Brown Comments

Annie, herself a former victim of domestic violence, heavily criticized Mara on Twitter following his comments on WFAN last week, saying, she was “baffled” and “angry” with the owner, who simply “doesn’t get it.”

Following her Twitter rant, Annie wrote a column for Sports Illustrated to explain her angry reaction. In it, she described in detail the horrifying incidents she went through as a victim of domestic abuse.

“How are you a so-called champion of domestic violence but lack basic compassion for a victim?” Annie Apple wrote. “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.”

After the Giants’ 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams in London, Eli Apple found himself caught between his mother and the man who both signed him and who writes his checks.

“I was like, ‘goddamn,’” the cornerback said about his mother’s comments, via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “But she’s her own person. She’s gonna do whatever she wants to do. She’s gonna talk about this. I’ve just got to understand that. It’s cool.

“My mom’s very vocal and that topic is very important to her, so I can understand where she was coming from. But at the same time in my position I just have to do my part and play football and do what I can do.”

Although the Giants opted to leave Brown behind for their London trip, they’ve yet to release him from their 53-man roster. Rather, Mara said, the team will continue to evaluate the situation when they return home and that no hasty decision will be made on Brown’s long-term future.

Brown had previously been suspended one-game by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from a 2015 domestic violence arrest, although charges in that case were shelved citing “insufficient evidence,” as Mara said in his statement on the kicker’s case.

The NFL has re-opened its investigation into Brown, 37, and the kicker has been placed on commissioner Roger Goodell’s exempt list. Brown reportedly won’t appeal the decision to be put on this list.

Eli Apple continued to praise his mother for expressing her concern over the issue of domestic violence.

“She has a voice, she has a voice and she’s gonna use it no matter. I love her for that,” he said. “She’s a unique woman and she’s always gonna speak up no matter what and I can’t really control that. I’ve just got to play football, . . . I tried to (talk to her). She’s a little upset at everybody right now, so I’m probably gonna give her her space a little bit.”

Apple also said he’s had conversations with the Giants organizations about the highly-sensitive issue.

ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 28: Eli Apple #13 of the Ohio State Buckeyes breaks up a pass intended for Amara Darboh #82 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half at Michigan Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)