Reid Era Camp Classics: No. 10
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Reid Era Camp Classics: No. 10
Daily News staff
As the countdown continues to this year's training camp at Lehigh, the Daily News and Eagletarian have gone back to look at some of our favorite or most interesting events and storylines of training camps and the preseason during the Andy Reid Era. Each weekday for the next two weeks, we will count them down, leading to No. 1.
NO. 10: TWO BIRDS HAVE SOME FIGHT IN 'EM
Published on Aug. 12, 2000
By Junji Noda, Daily News Sports Writer
For a moment, the humid, tropical-like conditions turned into pure chills.
During a non-contact drill at yesterday's Eagles practice, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and right tackle Jon Runyan tangled and took to the grass field at Lehigh as if it were a wrestling mat.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb looped a pass, barely dodging a defensive lineman, and the coaches blew the whistle, indicating the end of the play.
But the 261-pound Trotter and 330-pound Runyan ignited. Runyan got on top of Trotter, throwing several body blows, and from there, it got chaotic. Most players and coaches immediately tried to separate the duo. Pushing, shoving, screaming and shouting ensued.
The scene was dandy, yet, frightening.
"It's something that all teams go through," McNabb said. "We're all smiling again. "
Said Birds coach Andy Reid: "It's a violent sport and it's late in training camp. You get hot, tired guys and things happen. "
Trotter, along with his teammates, seemed to take light of what occurred.
"Why not get into a fight? Get it on? " Trotter said as left guard Lonnie Palelei approached from behind with a cloth, covered Trotter's head, and jokingly screamed, "Oh, no," pretending to start another fight.
Runyan, seemingly upset and irritated after the morning practice, declined to comment on the scuffle.
Backup quarterback Koy Detmer, one of the closest observers, said it's bread and butter in the world of football.
But when you see two guys who weigh in at almost 600 pounds combined, that's a different story.
"From high school to college to pro ball, we've all seen that a million times," said Detmer, a 195-pounder. "But today's was two huge guys going at it. Crazy. "
Added McNabb: "Well, you know, you want to get into it and maybe come to a clothesline on somebody, or work on your DDTs - do some of your WWF and NWO moves. But in that case, you just relax and wait until it stops, I guess. "
Ok, not much of a story, but it does point out something. Every good offensive line needs at least one mean SOB on it. The current OL does not have anybody who is still fighting when the play is over. Trotter lost a lot of good years here, but in his prime he was second only to Dawkins as a player who would crash into you, somebody who would make the oppsoing offense keep their heads on a swivel. Who on this D is a hitter who makes the other guys worry?— jimmyj- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz— JACK V
- I miss both those guys. Their physical presence, team-first attitude and just plain WANT-TO made them special players.— TBear
- I wonder if all these McNabb slammers will finally be quiet once their team is near the basement of the NFC east, fail to make the playoffs this year, and it has nothing to do with Donovan. I imagine it'll be like giving elementary kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. So quiet, you can hear a pin drop...— tony b
Comment removed.- I'm fairly certain DooDoo (and all the other haters) has a significant "man crush" on McNabb. Why else would he focus the conversation on #5 each and every day?— The Champ76
- man. remember when we had good players like trotter and runyan? whatever happened to guys like that? nothing but a bunch of scrubs now.— Ryan
- Going to miss McNabb. Yea I said it.— iladelph
- Runyan, I loved that guy. He would fight anybody.— craig123
- The Klobb apologists are already making excuses for BABY ARM and the season hasn't even begun !— BooDuhBud
- Comment removed.
- thats like brock lesnar vs 2 GSPs— Dawks4Prez
Two of the best the Eagles ever had under Reid- lots of good comments... i'm hoping reid finally gets it that running makes passing effective... too much to hope for but i'm always an optimist...— elmeaux_b
- miss mcnabb???? i miss him like i'd miss hemorhoids!!!!!he was and is awfull... The skins are (thankfullY) doomed... I do miss runyan and trotter and dawkins and westbrook (at least when they could still walk upright)... what i'm concerned about more than anything elase about the current team is leadership... i see potnetial in kolb... maybe peters in his way... or celek... or weaver or bradley... but no one seems to stand out as a bonejarring take no prisoners kind of guy... there seem to be a lot of nice players but.....— elmeaux_b
