Landon Collins Says Eli Apple Beef Is Over: 'We Buried the Hatchet a While Ago'

New York Giants safety Landon Collins called cornerback Eli Apple "a cancer" during the 2017 season, but on Monday he said they've mended their relationship.

"We buried the hatchet a while ago," Collins noted, per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. "That's my guy. That's my brother."

Apple also provided an update on the arm he fractured last season and spoke about both his new coaching staff and contract situation, per Vacchiano: 

As for the former rift between Collins and Apple, the star safety offered a harsh critique of his teammate in December.

"There's one corner that has to establish [himself] and needs to grow, and we all know who that is," Collins said during an interview on ESPN Radio, clearly alluding to Apple, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. "That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. Besides the other two guys—[Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie] and [Janoris Jenkins]—I love those two guys. They play hard. They love what they do. But, that first pick... he's a cancer."

Collins apologized after making those remarks, however: 

It was one moment in a season of turmoil in New York, which included a spate of injuries and players like Rodgers-Cromartie, Jenkins and Apple all being suspended one game by the team at various points in the season.

So burying the hatchet was an important step for a Giants' secondary that needs Collins and Apple on the same page. The former has emerged as one of the best safeties in football, recording 104 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 2017. The latter will be expected to take a leap forward next to Jenkins after a mediocre 2017 season.

The pair have the upside, alongside Jenkins, to form one of the better secondaries in the NFL. That only happens if the drama of 2017 is well behind the group, however.