Eli’s coming — not that one

Saints hope this Apple doesn’t still have a worm in it

By The Associated Press

The New York Giants sent “the other Eli” to the New Orleans Saints.

Not Eli Manning. Eli Apple.

The Giants on Tuesday traded the cornerback who was the 10th pick overall in the 2016 draft to the Saints for a fourth-round pick in 2019 and a seventh-rounder in 2020.

Like all trades, it will be not official until Apple passes a physical.

The move marks the second time in a week the Giants (1-6) have parted ways with a recent first-round draft pick. Last week they waived tackle Ereck Flowers, their 2015 top pick. He was signed by Jacksonville.

It also could be a sign the Giants, who were 3-13 last season, might deal more assets with the NFL trading deadline set for 4 p.m. on Oct. 30.

Apple has 23 tackles and a forced fumble. He also recovered a fumble in the Giants’ 23-20 loss to the Falcons in Atlanta on Monday night.

The Saints have struggled on pass defense. They are 5-1 and in first place in the NFC South in large part because of the play of Drew Brees and the offense.

New Orleans (5-1) will face the Minnesota Vikings (4-2-1) on Sunday night in a matchup of first-place teams.

This was somewhat of a make-or-break season for Apple. He had a bad year in 2017 and was called a cancer by safety Landon Collins because of his attitude. He was inactive for four games and suspended for the season finale.

The South Jersey native came back this season and was all business. He has shown flashes of being a good cornerback, but at times has not made plays. His holding penalty on a third-down play cost the Giants a chance to get off the field with Atlanta pinned near its goal line.

In his three seasons with the Giants, Apple played in 30 regular-season games with 23 starts. He had 120 tackles (102 solo), one interception, 20 passes defensed, one forced fumble and five fumble recoveries, as well as two stops and one fumble recovery on special teams.

Apple started 27 games for Ohio State from 2014-15. He finished his college career with 86 tackles, four interceptions and 22 passes defensed. He was a college teammate of three current Saints: safety Vonn Bell, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and receiver Michael Thomas.

New Orleans has been ranked near the bottom of the league in pass defense. The pass defense gave up late touchdowns against Cleveland in Week 2 and Baltimore on Sunday and hung on for wins on missed point-after kicks.

The Saints lost top nickel back Patrick Robinson after three games because of an ankle injury. The veteran had joined the team as a free agent after a year in Philadelphia.

7:20 p.m. Sunday | NBC

      782e6604-7891-11e8-91fc-139b35020a512018-06-25T18:00:00Zopinion/editorials,opinionArea legislators have good voting recordsOUR VIEW The American Press
      state capitolAssociated Press

      Five Southwest Louisiana legislators chalked up great attendance records at this year’s regular session. Two of the other seven lawmakers were ill, which accounts for their higher-than-average absentee record.

      Some who miss votes are sponsoring bills that often require them to testify in the other chamber while votes are taking place. However, most legislators who responded to The Times-Picayune’s request for an explanation said they made an effort to be present for votes on the more important measures.

      Sen. Ronnie Johns, R-Sulphur, missed only 2.2 percent of the recorded votes. Others with high marks are Rep. Frank Howard, R-Many (4.6 percent); Rep. Stephen Dwight, R-Moss Bluff (6.3 percent); Rep. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles (6.4 percent); and Rep. A.B. Franklin, D-Lake Charles (7.8 percent). Howard represents Vernon Parish.

      The two area lawmakers who missed the most recorded votes were ill. They are Reps. Dorothy Sue Hill, D-Dry Creek (64.5 percent), and James Armes, D-Leesville (35.9 percent). Hill was on sick leave during most of the votes she missed. Armes told the newspaper he had to lie down often on orders from his doctor.

      “I know I didn’t miss any major votes,” Armes said.

      Rep. Bob Hensgens, R-Abbeville, missed 35.9 percent of the votes; Sen. Eric LaFleur, D-Ville Platte, 33.0 percent; Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, R-Jennings, 20.6 percent; Sen. John Smith, R-Leesville, 19.9 percent; and Rep. Johnny Guinn, R-Jennings, 19.8 percent. Morrish and LaFleur are chairmen of Senate committees, which accounts for some of their missed votes. LaFleur represents Allen Parish.

      Rep. Johnny Berthelot, R-Gonzales, had the best record, missing only 0.54 percent of the votes. Sen. Yvonne Colomb, D-Baton Rouge, who was also ill, missed 84.9 percent of the recorded votes, the highest among the 142 legislators.

      Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, missed only 0.94 percent of the votes. Alario has been in the Legislature since 1972, longer than any other legislator. Speaker of the House Taylor Barras, R-New Iberia, missed only 5.1 percent of the votes.

      We commend area legislators with high attendance records. They, too, have other responsibilities, but take their government service seriously.

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