Great article on Runyan vs. The Gap

[Diomedes]

Runyan's a bad mofo and one of the best at his position. But everyone has their Achillies Heel. For Chad Lewis, it's running with the football. For Buckhalter it's just plain running. For Mamula it was offensive lineman and for a time, Runyan's was Strahan.

Sassy made me laugh.

[Feva]

Words of encouragement from  .

Strahan watched the Eagles self-destruct on Monday night and - believe it or not - he claims to be impressed with their heart.

"Even with the game on Monday night, I was watching the defense and looking at [Jeremiah] Trotter and the rest of the guys and saying these guys have not quit," Strahan said. "They will fight to the end and are playing hard, and you always have a chance when you have guys who are leaders like that."

[ice grillin you]

Strahan watched the Eagles self-destruct on Monday night and - believe it or not - he claims to be impressed with their heart.

"Even with the game on Monday night, I was watching the defense and looking at [Jeremiah] Trotter and the rest of the guys and saying these guys have not quit," Strahan said. "They will fight to the end and are playing hard, and you always have a chance when you have guys who are leaders like that."

im gonna go out on a limb and say that the giants play the eagles this sunday?

[Feva]

Strahan watched the Eagles self-destruct on Monday night and - believe it or not - he claims to be impressed with their heart.

"Even with the game on Monday night, I was watching the defense and looking at [Jeremiah] Trotter and the rest of the guys and saying these guys have not quit," Strahan said. "They will fight to the end and are playing hard, and you always have a chance when you have guys who are leaders like that."

im gonna go out on a limb and say that the giants execute the eagles this sunday?

You sir... are correct.

[DutchBird]

So statistics are only appropriate when they work in your favor, is that it, guys?



Runyan hasn't been punked by Strahan since the first couple of games he played with the Eagles.  If he had been, then the Eagles wouldn't have consistently beaten the Giants over the past 5 years.

No way, no how.

I want to see ALL the stats, not just sacks, but also hurries and knockdowns. I'd say Strahan made Runyan his bitch for the first two or three years Runyan was in Philly. Then Strahan got hurt.

That would also mean that one should look at the blocking assignemnts on every play. If a WR, TE or RB is supposed to chip a DE, but does not, that you can hardly fault the tackle for screwing up. Same if the guard is not showing up on a double team without legitemate excuse (aka incoming blitz)....

[Tomahawk]

So statistics are only appropriate when they work in your favor, is that it, guys?



Runyan hasn't been punked by Strahan since the first couple of games he played with the Eagles.  If he had been, then the Eagles wouldn't have consistently beaten the Giants over the past 5 years.

No way, no how.

I want to see ALL the stats, not just sacks, but also hurries and knockdowns. I'd say Strahan made Runyan his bitch for the first two or three years Runyan was in Philly. Then Strahan got hurt.

That would also mean that one should look at the blocking assignemnts on every play. If a WR, TE or RB is supposed to chip a DE, but does not, that you can hardly fault the tackle for screwing up. Same if the guard is not showing up on a double team without legitemate excuse (aka incoming blitz)....

True. So who's going to review all that game footage?

[DutchBird]

If somebody could send me the games, that could be a nice summer-project....

[ice grillin you]

Runyan set for latest duel with Strahan

By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

Jon Runyan has another date with Michael Strahan on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, so it would be inadvisable for the Eagles' giant offensive tackle to think about anything other than his football assignment.

Over the last six seasons, the two have met 11 times, and Strahan has registered 111/2 sacks. That didn't stop the New York Giants' superstar defensive end from praising Runyan.

"Jon is probably the one guy in my career I've probably had the most battles against because he always seems to be there every game, and he's one of the toughest guys I have to face," Strahan said during a conference call Wednesday. "I think we both know each other pretty well. I have won some, he has won some, and we've split some. It's never easy going against him, and he is always my toughest opponent."

Where once there was a heated rivalry that included a nasty exchange of accusations, there now is a mutual respect between the two aging veterans who still know how to play the game.

"It's nice," Runyan said when told of Strahan's compliment, "but you have to keep going out there and doing it. You can't show up and have a bad game. If you don't bring your game, he can make you look really bad. He does a lot of things good and a lot of things that keep you guessing."

What's most interesting about this meeting between the two giant linemen is that it could be the last one with Runyan in an Eagles uniform. Two months after this season ends on New Year's Day, Runyan will be a free agent.

The Eagles have difficult decisions to make at a lot of positions, and offensive tackle certainly is one of them. Runyan is a free agent, and left tackle Tra Thomas, who has three years remaining on his contract at an average of $4.55 million per season, just underwent back surgery.

It's a safe bet that at least one of them will not return next season, and it's not out of the question that both will be gone.

Runyan, who left Tennessee and signed with the Eagles as a free agent before the 2000 season, has enjoyed his time in Philadelphia, but he has not forgotten that this is a business in which there is a short life span.

"It's my desire to make a very good living for myself, because my years are numbered," Runyan said. "When the season's over, it's a business decision, and that's the only way you can think about it."

Runyan, 32, could be a valuable commodity on this year's free-agent market. As Strahan noted, he has proved his durability, playing in 156 consecutive games, and you won't find an offensive tackle with more postseason experience.

In recent years, the question has always seemed to be whether the Eagles wanted to keep their 30-something players. Now, you have to wonder whether their 30-something players might want to go elsewhere if there's a more immediate chance to win.

It's all about the perception of this team - whether it is about to go through a rebuilding or a reloading stage. Runyan has watched the offense in general, and the offensive line in particular, fall apart this season. He has 16 career playoff starts. Tight end L.J. Smith and guard Artis Hicks are the Eagles' only active offensive players who have started that many regular-season games.

"It's hard to believe, but it's happened," Runyan said. "There's nothing you can do about it, so you deal with what you've got."

This will be the first time in seven years that Runyan will not be lining up for a playoff game. During his six-year run, he played in two Super Bowls and five conference championship games.

"You're kind of blind if you think you're going to be on a run like that for the rest of your life," he said. "You know things like this are going to happen. It's just a matter of how do you deal with it and move on from here."

[Diomedes]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2631666

Runyan ties Joey Porter for second dirtiest player in NFL, behind Rodney Harrison.  As voted by the players.

[SD_Eagle5]

As an Eagles fan I couldn't be prouder

[SunMo]

i couldn't be prouder of Dio and his excellent use of an existing topic.

[Feva]

I couldn't be prouder of SunMo being openly gay enough to ride Dio's nuts like he is.

[SunMo]

that was hurtful and inappropriate

[SD_Eagle5]

Circle jerk

[Feva]

that was hurtful and inappropriate

Don't forget well struck.