Eli Apple just made the Bengals less likeable with controversial tweet

Eli Apple loves to trash talk, but he went a hit too far with a tweet that might change the public’s perception of the Cincinnati Bengals.

It’s fair to say that Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple is the Patrick Beverly of the NFL. Hall of Fame levels of trash talk, but none as a player.

That said, there’s a limit to trash talk, and it appears Apple may have crossed his limits and, in the process, turned a lot of would-be supporters against his team.

Following Cincinnati’s upset over Buffalo, Apple went on a Twitter rampage, trolling Bills players and their fans which seemed fine, except for one tweet.

https://twitter.com/EliApple/status/1617710425440935938?s=20&t=DzFyOiB5rxQxQrL9chytmQ

Cancun is one thing, but the heart emoji looks to pay reference to Damar Hamlin, the Bills safety who went through a horrific ordeal this year when he collapsed during a game.

As you can imagine, the world of Twitter went off, many reverting their pick of Cincinnati winning the Super Bowl to Kansas City, hoping Apple gets embarrassed and bringing up last year’s Super Bowl when eventual Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp continually burned Apple.

Eli Apple is hurting the Bengals’ name with his behavior, and it could come back to bite him worse than before.

To the winner, go the spoils, but right now, this incident makes it hard on those who support Cincinnati or wish to root for the Bengals to win their first Super Bowl.

There’s a fine line between trash talk and going over the line. Yes, Eli Apple has done better than last year, but let’s not forget how some of his former teammates view him. Former Giants teammate Landon Collins once called him a “cancer,” and the New Orleans Saints, whom Apple once played for, share similar feelings.

Maybe Apple was using an NBA taunt in his tweet. Had he left it at that, no one would care. But the heart emoji he chose looks a bit much, and now, he’s turned a lot of folks who initially wanted to root for Cincinnati against them.

That said, it all comes down to this. Apple had better show up against the Kansas City Chiefs. If he goes out there and backs up the trash talk, good for him.

But if he doesn’t or plays poorly, and the Bengals are in the locker room disappointed instead of celebrating with the Lamar Hunt trophy, eyes will be on Apple, and social media will have the same, if not greater, field day than they had last February.

Eli talked, but he better be able to take the blowback that comes his way. He talked and went a bit over the line, but now that the check has been written, he’s got to cash it, or it’s going to be a painful Sunday. Apple has already made a lot of enemies, but more could be coming if he doesn’t watch his step.