TypicalBill
10-25-2002, 12:02 PM
Eagles' Runyan tired of talk about Strahan
October 24 2002 7:40PM ET
Philadelphia (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Jon Runyan has heard enough about Michael Strahan.
The one-on-one rivalry began in 2000, when Strahan, the New York Giants’ star defensive end, left the field saying, “Jon Runyan who?” They’ve squared off four times since, and entering their first meeting of the season Monday, Runyan already is tired of the buildup.
Runyan called a rare news conference Thursday so he wouldn’t have to answer questions about Strahan for the rest of the week.
“Every snap there’s 22 guys on the field. He’s a great player and I’m expected to block him,” Runyan said. “He’s going to make plays and I’m going to make plays on him. It’s nice to be in the spotlight like that and it’s appreciated, but it’s a little repetitive and a little boring at times.”
New York (3-3) plays Philadelphia (4-2) on Monday night at Veterans Stadium. A win by the Eagles would give them a two-game lead in the NFC East.
Although he didn’t get a sack on Sept. 10, 2000, Strahan got the best of Runyan on that day, and the Giants won 33-18. Runyan fared better in the second meeting, but the Giants won 24-7.
In New York’s 20-10 playoff victory over the Eagles that season, Strahan embarrassed Runyan. On a play that was replayed over and over, Strahan pushed Runyan down, ran right over him and sacked Donovan McNabb to force a fumble. It was just one of the 61 plays in the game, but it left a lasting image.
“He’s a complete player, he’s fast and powerful, he knows the game, he knows your weakness, he knows how to set your moves up,” Runyan said.
Strahan broke Mark Gastineau’s single-season NFL record for sacks by recording 22-1/2 last year. He got 5-1/2 against the Eagles, but the Giants lost both games. Strahan sacked McNabb twice in a 10-9 loss last October, and pulled within a half-sack of Gastineau’s record with 3-1/2 sacks in the first half of a 24-21 loss in December.
“We have the utmost confidence in Jon that he’ll be able to do the job, but we have to realize that Strahan is a guy who had 22-1/2 sacks last year, and he’s going to have a good game,” McNabb said.
Strahan has just 3-1/2 sacks in six games this season, but he’s been a disruptive force. He commands a double-team from most opponents, and quarterbacks always make sure to keep an eye on him.
“I don’t see anything different,” Runyan said. “He’s playing as hard as he can. A lot of it has to do with the way the team is playing and the situation you’re in.”
Runyan scoffed at the notion that he’ll get help blocking Strahan. Asked how often the Eagles will double-team Strahan, Runyan said, “Never.”
Tight end Chad Lewis, who would be called on at times to assist Runyan, didn’t rule it out, though.
“If the situation calls for it, I’ll help out,” Lewis said.
Like Runyan, Strahan, who usually has a lot to say about any topic, doesn’t like to discuss their individual matchup. He threatened to end an interview session with reporters last year if Runyan’s name was mentioned.
Strahan, however, still does plenty of talking on the field. Unlike Tampa Bay’s Warren Sapp, a notorious trash-talker who quieted down when the Eagles were beating the Buccaneers in last week’s game, Runyan said Strahan doesn’t look at the scoreboard.
“He won’t shut up,” Runyan said.
Copyright Associated Press 2002.
The Link (http://www.buffalobills.com/news/nfl_news_story.cfm?cont_id=40276&table_name=ap_cont_text&table_cd=a&)
October 24 2002 7:40PM ET
Philadelphia (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Jon Runyan has heard enough about Michael Strahan.
The one-on-one rivalry began in 2000, when Strahan, the New York Giants’ star defensive end, left the field saying, “Jon Runyan who?” They’ve squared off four times since, and entering their first meeting of the season Monday, Runyan already is tired of the buildup.
Runyan called a rare news conference Thursday so he wouldn’t have to answer questions about Strahan for the rest of the week.
“Every snap there’s 22 guys on the field. He’s a great player and I’m expected to block him,” Runyan said. “He’s going to make plays and I’m going to make plays on him. It’s nice to be in the spotlight like that and it’s appreciated, but it’s a little repetitive and a little boring at times.”
New York (3-3) plays Philadelphia (4-2) on Monday night at Veterans Stadium. A win by the Eagles would give them a two-game lead in the NFC East.
Although he didn’t get a sack on Sept. 10, 2000, Strahan got the best of Runyan on that day, and the Giants won 33-18. Runyan fared better in the second meeting, but the Giants won 24-7.
In New York’s 20-10 playoff victory over the Eagles that season, Strahan embarrassed Runyan. On a play that was replayed over and over, Strahan pushed Runyan down, ran right over him and sacked Donovan McNabb to force a fumble. It was just one of the 61 plays in the game, but it left a lasting image.
“He’s a complete player, he’s fast and powerful, he knows the game, he knows your weakness, he knows how to set your moves up,” Runyan said.
Strahan broke Mark Gastineau’s single-season NFL record for sacks by recording 22-1/2 last year. He got 5-1/2 against the Eagles, but the Giants lost both games. Strahan sacked McNabb twice in a 10-9 loss last October, and pulled within a half-sack of Gastineau’s record with 3-1/2 sacks in the first half of a 24-21 loss in December.
“We have the utmost confidence in Jon that he’ll be able to do the job, but we have to realize that Strahan is a guy who had 22-1/2 sacks last year, and he’s going to have a good game,” McNabb said.
Strahan has just 3-1/2 sacks in six games this season, but he’s been a disruptive force. He commands a double-team from most opponents, and quarterbacks always make sure to keep an eye on him.
“I don’t see anything different,” Runyan said. “He’s playing as hard as he can. A lot of it has to do with the way the team is playing and the situation you’re in.”
Runyan scoffed at the notion that he’ll get help blocking Strahan. Asked how often the Eagles will double-team Strahan, Runyan said, “Never.”
Tight end Chad Lewis, who would be called on at times to assist Runyan, didn’t rule it out, though.
“If the situation calls for it, I’ll help out,” Lewis said.
Like Runyan, Strahan, who usually has a lot to say about any topic, doesn’t like to discuss their individual matchup. He threatened to end an interview session with reporters last year if Runyan’s name was mentioned.
Strahan, however, still does plenty of talking on the field. Unlike Tampa Bay’s Warren Sapp, a notorious trash-talker who quieted down when the Eagles were beating the Buccaneers in last week’s game, Runyan said Strahan doesn’t look at the scoreboard.
“He won’t shut up,” Runyan said.
Copyright Associated Press 2002.
The Link (http://www.buffalobills.com/news/nfl_news_story.cfm?cont_id=40276&table_name=ap_cont_text&table_cd=a&)