In a classic case of “Those that you think will, won’t and those that you think won’t will,” Bengals’ DB Eli Apple, after being released by the Carolina Panthers two seasons ago, will play in Super Bowl LVI.
Cool story until Apple alleged that Panthers’ Head Coach Matt Rhule told him that he’d never play in the league again after seeing action in just two games in Carolina.
It’s one thing to waive or release someone. It’s another to bash someone on his way out of the door. On the other hand, players use different things to motivate themselves. The Panthers weren’t the only former team Apple talked about. He had the same energy for all of his former employers on social media. Again, using slights to motivate is nothing new.
If you’ve read the article on Rhule and the Panthers from the Athletic’s Joe Person that alleged Rhule’s favoritism to players he coached at Temple and Baylor, and telling players he could get paid more coaching college, then Apple’s claim could be just the latest incident.
If it’s true, Rhule is out of pocket. It’s also fitting that if he did say it, Apple is still playing at the moment and in the biggest of moments while Rhule, et al are on the couch.