Eli Apple is not someone who lacks self confidence, and that’s probably going to be very important coming off of the Super Bowl performance he had. The Bengals defensive back who has become a household name for NFL fans, as much for his tweets and trash talk as his on-field exploits, had a rough go of it in Cincinnati’s 23-20 loss to the Rams in Super Bowl LIV.
Apple, who took a number of victory laps and happily jumped in the mentions of the Chiefs’ receiving corps after the AFC title game in which Cincy shut down KC’s passing attack in the second half, did not have as good of an evening in Los Angeles. In the first half, Apple found himself in no man’s land on the Rams’ second touchdown, as he bit up on a Matthew Stafford bootleg, leaving Cooper Kupp wide open in the back of the end zone, which is not the person you want to leave open.
SUPER KUPP.@CooperKupp #RamsHouse
๐บ: #SBLVI on NBC
๐ฑ: https://t.co/K02y40b5Nu pic.twitter.com/DrajgCmlYf— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022
Then, with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, Apple was manned up on Kupp on the outside and saw the Rams’ star receiver lock up Super Bowl MVP honors with a touchdown catch over Apple on a back-shoulder fade with under two minutes to go on what would become the game-winning score.
IT'S BEEN COOPER KUPP ALL YEAR.
HE DOES IT AGAIN. #RamsHouse
๐บ: #SBLVI on NBC
๐ฑ: https://t.co/K02y40b5Nu pic.twitter.com/02QlsZmirX— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2022
After that touchdown, a number of NFL players decided it was officially time to fire up social media and light up the Eli Apple pack, as Chiefs receivers, former Saints teammates, Ravens stars, and more took to Twitter to get on what became quite the roast of Apple.
@EliApple Wish you was a better corner bro then the game winning touchdown wouldnโt been scored on you ๐คท๐พโโ๏ธ
— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) February 14, 2022
https://twitter.com/MecoleHardman4/status/1493061164040953857
https://twitter.com/Cantguardmike/status/1493055039148998656
Apple Pack Gone Hit Hard In LA.. ๐ฎโ๐จ https://t.co/vxkZDrgogs
— Hollywood Brown (@Primetime_jet) February 14, 2022
๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ https://t.co/Qq4RTR4jEW pic.twitter.com/w3P8EzigdR
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) February 14, 2022
๐๐๐๐๐๐smell like apple pie in sofi.. https://t.co/XeXdiYcKMR
— Saint Binky 2x (@khalenNOTkaylen) February 14, 2022
All I see is Apple Pack or this burnt toast pic on Twitterโฆ. ๐๐๐๐๐
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) February 14, 2022
Thatโs a big apple to eat ๐
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) February 14, 2022
It’s rare that NFL players let their distaste for someone else in the “NFL family” known this much, but Apple certainly makes himself and easy target and the schadenfreude was flowing like wine as the Super Bowl ended.