EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Bobby Hart’s nameplate still sat atop his New York Giants locker Monday despite the offensive tackle having been waived over the weekend. It will eventually come down.
Hart will not be the only player jettisoned because of his attitude. There is a whole list that new general manager Dave Gettleman can cherry-pick from as he reshapes his roster and the team’s culture.
Cornerback Eli Apple could be next. He had trouble throughout the season. He was benched, fined and eventually suspended. He clashed with and was almost flattened by safety Landon Collins.
But Apple, much like left tackle Ereck Flowers, has talent. That gives him at least a chance to stay.
Veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie thinks it can work with Apple and Collins in the same defensive backs room next season. “Easily. The offseason is long,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “You can put all of that behind you. You can talk about it, get on the phone with each other. Whatever you have, get away from it. I just think it’s just this season, the atmosphere of being in this locker room, that’s it. This offseason, I definitely think they’ll jell back.”
More likely Gettleman will ship Apple elsewhere. He ruffled too many feathers -- with the team and his teammates -- and didn't handle himself in a professional manner often enough to return.
It’s hard to rebound from being called “a cancer” by one of the team’s more respected players.
If Apple does return -- and Rodgers-Cromartie does, as well; he's a potential cap casualty -- at least he will have one respected ally in the locker room. That is a start, considering that this season ended with him serving a suspension.
“I can’t really speak for guys. I know if he comes back in here, I’d give him a hug and continue where we left off,” said Rodgers-Cromartie, who also thought Apple could eventually shake the "cancer" label. “I wouldn’t even look at it like that. I wouldn’t say, ‘There’s Eli!’ I wouldn’t do that.”
Herzlich not done
Linebacker Mark Herzlich wants to continue playing after spending the season on injured reserve because of a stinger suffered in training camp. He’s cleared medically and will train for next season as if he’s going to play. Herzlich will see where it takes him.
The longtime Giants special-teams contributor is a free agent this offseason. He does have a previous relationship with Gettleman, who was with the Giants through the 2012 season. That might help get him at least another look next summer. Herzlich is one of four players remaining (Eli Manning, Jason Pierre-Paul and Zak DeOssie are the others) from Gettleman’s previous tenure in New York.
Lewis needs surgery
Wide receiver Roger Lewis didn’t play Sunday because of an ankle injury that has plagued him for weeks. Lewis said after the win over the Washington Redskins that he would have surgery Tuesday. He had been limited at practice for most of the last month.
Lewis finished with 36 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns.