Eli Apple Tested On First Day Of Giants' OTAs
EAST RUTHEFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- It was Eli vs. Eli on Day 1 of the Giants' organized team activities -- or at least it seemed that way.
Veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was a no-show for the voluntary camp, which meant first-round draft pick Eli Apple was inserted into the starting lineup opposite Janoris Jenkins, and quarterback Eli Manning threw at the rookie right away.
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Manning said he wasn't picking on Apple.
"That wasn't the intention," he said. "That's the way sometimes, depending on what the plays and coverage are, just going through my progressions. So it wasn't trying to go at a certain guy.
"Honestly, for the most part, don't even know who's at corner. Not even looking at it."
Ironically, Manning wasn't throwing Apple's way when he was matched up on the Giants' best receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. But Apple said he doubts his coverage deterred Manning from targeting the Pro Bowler.
"I don't think it was anything like that," Apple said. "I was kind of on him a little bit. I was just trying to play to my help and everything. I don't know if it was that (his coverage). Gonna have to ask Eli on that one."
First-year head coach Ben McAdoo said the objectives for OTAs is "learning and improving."
"You want to develop the fundamentals as best you can without pads on, work on communication, detail our communication there, and guys are really jockeying for position as far as where it goes for reps in training camp and in the preseason games," McAdoo said.
Wide receiver Victor Cruz was on the field but did not practice.
"Right now, we're looking for him to get back here, and he's working to get back to training camp. Small steps," McAdoo said.
Running back Paul Perkins, the team's fifth-round pick, can't attend the OTAs because UCLA's school year has not ended.
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