RUNYAN STILL WANTS TO PLAY
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
RUNYAN STILL WANTS TO PLAY
Bob Brookover
If you saw Jon Runyan an hour after the Eagles' NFC championship loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night, you'd have thought he'd be considering retirement.
After weeks and weeks of playing on a sprained right knee, then suffering a concussion on the final play of the game, the Eagles' 35-year-old tackle looked like a worn-down man.
But as the players cleaned out their lockers this morning at the NovaCare Complex, Runyan made it clear that he wants to keep playing and he'd prefer that it would be with the Eagles. Runyan, in fact, said he had more energy playing this year than he has in the past.
"Actually this year was easier than most," Runyan said. "It hurt a little bit, but more than anything it's an energy issue and going through this year, besides my knee bothering me, I felt pretty good."
He went on to rate his current level of pain as a 12 on a scale from one to 10 and said most players would have shut it down rather than play with the knee sprain he had to deal with on a weekly basis.
"I'll be better in a week or two," he said. "I think the biggest thing is being able to get off of it. Most people probably wouldn't have played with what I've been through, but most people aren't me. That's who I am and that's how I've always approached it. I take a little more pride than most people do."
Both Runyan and fellow offensive tackle Tra Thomas are among the Eagles' seven potential unrestricted free agents. That group also includes safeties Brian Dawkins and Sean Considine, tight end L.J. Smith, running back Correll Buckhalter and cornerback Joselio Hanson. Receiver Hank Baskett and Nick Cole are both eligible to become restricted free agents.
Runyan said he wouldn't put a number on the years he still thinks he can play in the league. Before re-signing with the Eagles in 2006, Runyan visited the New York Jets. He said he doesn't have any inkling whether the Eagles want him back and coach Andy Reid declined to talk about the specifics of his own free agents at his year-end news conference.
"I don't worry about that kind of stuff," Runyan said. "You do what you can and you make their job hard. If there job is easy, then it means it's time to go. It would be nice to stick around, but if I got to go I got to go. I still do this better than most. I just hope everybody else feels like that."
Not sure what all these comments are about, the story is about Runyan. playing on a gimpy knee all season and the man did a good job, and seems to have a couple more years left in him, so yes, bring him back!!!— DJ- Not sure what all these comments are about, the story is about Runyan. playing on a gimpy knee all season and the man did a good job, and seems to have a couple more years left in him, so yes, bring him back!!!— DJ
- Did I miss something or we one more stop on 4th and 1 from the Super Bowl? A change is in the mix but let's not get too carried away. How would a power back and a shut-down corner have made a difference? But WITHOUT changing anything else...4 and short and ...well....— wynnewoodroad
- LJ Smith had more tatoos than catches. The Eagles need to find another quality running back in the Westbrook mold.I love Buckhalter but those knees could go at anytime. Westbrook was injured much of the year and u can't depend on him to be healthy. He'll be 30 so unless he grows 5 inches and puts on 30 pound b4 camp they better get someone in the draft or free agency...— bryky
- Fire Reid and trade McNabb— Babooska
- Okay here's what you do: bring back tra, john, dawk, buckhalter,hanson and baskett. FIRE ANDY REID! Trade McStupid and Fire the offense coordinator too.— bow
Comment removed.- I love when people say to get rid off Reid and McNabb like that will quickly fix the problem. This far into the Playoffs any of the supposed quality coaches are gone. Don't give me Cowher he won't come here and Gruden won with a team he inherited from Dungy then drove it into the ground. There isn't a Free Agent QB worthy of replacing McNabb nor is there one to trade for. They need to get some quality FA's to add to the puzzle and some Draft Picks that can contribute (D-Jax looks promising) now just try to sign a legit playmaker on offense and defense that can help with some of the weakness of this team. I loved Buddy Ryan but Reid has done more with this group of less talented players than Buddy could do with all the talent he had. 10 years 7 playoff appearances Reid kept the season going longer and no one halfway expected this team to get this far esp. at 5-5-1.— DD3185
- Keep Runyon....and get Andrews ready but remember he has depression isues...and they are very difficult to cure/correct///— nuggett
- lexi, your an idiot, #5 was one of the big reasons they were in that game at all, the defense just did not play a good game yesterday, simple as that!— sstoys2
I second MarioMick's proposal! Give Jon and Dawkins each a short contract to get them through their career and then make them coaches. The team should have an agreement ahead of time with each player that if their play deteriorates to the point where they are a detriment to the team that they make the transition to coaching even if they have a little time left on contract. The Eagles will stand out as a top tier team among potential key aquisitions if they show that they take care of the best players who stay with the team for all or most of their career. I can accept losing a hard fought game when the players give their all and the team shows their commitment to the players and their community. They did their best, but Arizona was the better team yesterday. Concentrate on the future and you will see there is light down this tunnel.- Doesn't have what it takes to win the big game?? That's hysterical. They went from 5-5-1 to the NFC championship and the guy can't win the big game. Here's what's been hounding the Eagles for years: Inconsistant execution of the plays. As a unit. Up and down. When you get to the playoffs, they need to run off a string of games where they play well and they can't do it. They've been the favorite and lose. Beat themsleves. Why????????????? If a team can't execute your offense/defense/st consistantly all season, there must be a reason. Seems like mistakes are made. Is it too complicated??— MikeP
- Runyan should be resigned by the Eagles. He's durable and knows the system and goes out and plays the game. Thomas too should be resigned. If Fitzgerald is a free agents the Eagles should offer him a great deal.— dave h
- Great comeback Philly fans. I was concerned the Cards were going to blow it. Stay classy Philadelphia!— Acigarman1
- lexi, did he show heart when he single handedly brought them back from a huge deficit w/ tremendous throws? granted he missed some throws but had nothing to do w/ heart— JONeill
