Bengals CB Eli Apple: Criticisms 'reawoke a fire in me' for 2022 season

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple talked plenty of trash en route to Super Bowl LVI, so there were plenty of NFL players who celebrated when his team came up short against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Three days later, Apple wrote that the talk will only motivate him to step his game up in 2022.

"Y'all reawoke a fire in me that will only make me stronger and I'm beyond excited to unleash that demon again to exponential levels on any opp that lines up across from me next season," Apple wrote in an Instagram caption.

Apple, 26, was the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but has bounced around the league with four different teams in as many seasons. He joined the Bengals on a one-year deal in March 2021 and was a full-time starter for the team on defense.

In January, Apple stirred up some anger when he said he couldn't decide whether he hated New York Giants or New Orleans Saints fans more. A week later, he taunted Kansas City Chiefs receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman after the Bengals won the AFC Championship.