Post by EagleGene on Dec 16, 2005 17:51:19 GMT -5
RUNYAN'S STREAK SHOULD BE SAFE
December 16, 2005
By CHRIS McPHERSON
Offensive tackle Jon Runyan has no intention of stopping now.
Runyan has started in the last 141 consecutive regular seasons games. That current streak ranks fourth behind Green Bay's Brett Favre (218), Kansas City's Will Shields (204) and Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks (157).
But the streak only seems to come up when Runyan misses a couple days of practice, which he did this week due to a knee contusion. But he always finds a way to make it on to the field come Sunday.
It appears that despite the injury, the streak is safe for now. Runyan practiced Friday and, barring a setback, will notch No. 142 this Sunday in St. Louis.
"It's remarkable," head coach Andy Reid said of Runyan's streak. "For the position he plays, it's not an easy thing to do. For the style of football he plays, it's probably even more amazing."
Offensive coordinator Brad Childress also lauded his durability.
"He has a great way of answering the bell. He sure has," said offensive coordinator Brad Childress. "He's got a track record and he's beat up a little bit, as is most of our football team right now at this juncture. But yeah, I expect him to be there."
Runyan said the key for him is to get to Sunday.
"You can get through the swelling and the pain, until it's gone you tend to deal with it," said Runyan. "I think the biggest part is just getting to the game. Once you're in the game, you really don't feel that kind of stuff."
The streak started on August 31, 1997 when he was part of a Tennessee Oilers offensive line that helped running back Eddie George amass a club-record tying 216 rushing yards against Oakland. The streak was even kept alive when the Eagles rested their starters in the final pair of games last season.
"There are not that many people who have done it (reached 200 straight games)," said Runyan. "It's something you think about every now and then. 200 is still a few years away. That's something I still have to work on, but it's out there."
Runyan was signed by the Eagles as a free agent in 2000 and has started all 93 games he's played in as an Eagle. In 2000, he was part of the first offensive line in Philadelphia to start with the same combination in every game since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Only four teams in the entire league completed that feat in 2000.
Runyan has only missed two games in his entire football career. Both games were in 1994 when Runyan was a standout at the University of Michigan. There were times early in his NFL career, before the streak became the streak, that Runyan wasn't sure if he was going to be able to play.
"Before I ever started thinking about (the streak), there were a few games earlier in my career that I was questionable to play in but I did anyway," said Runyan. "It's the kind of thing now where if the doctor says you're not going to hurt yourself any further playing, why not? It's stuff that you can deal with."
What has been Runyan's secret?
He's tried different therapies.
"There's natural oils and things you throw on there, but you don't know if it really works or not," said Runyan. "Hey, it's worth a shot."
He thanked his parents.
"There's a lot of genetics in there too," said Runyan. "I got decent size on both sides of the family, so I have a stable body."
And a little bit of it, well, let's just knock on wood.
"That's something to say about not getting a major injury or tearing anything, that's the big thing," said Runyan. "That has a lot to do with it."
Runyan has been able to stay healthy, but the rest of the offensive line has not been as fortunate. The only other offensive lineman to start in every game this season has been guard Shawn Andrews.
Center Hank Fraley and left tackle Tra Thomas are on Injured Reserve and guard Artis Hicks did not play against Green Bay or Seattle because of an MCL sprain.
And with young kids like Jamaal Jackson, Adrien Clarke and Todd Herremans filling in, Runyan has served as a teacher of sorts this season.
"He's done a nice job with the young kids," Reid said. "They all look up to him and respect him."
December 16, 2005
By CHRIS McPHERSON
Offensive tackle Jon Runyan has no intention of stopping now.
Runyan has started in the last 141 consecutive regular seasons games. That current streak ranks fourth behind Green Bay's Brett Favre (218), Kansas City's Will Shields (204) and Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks (157).
But the streak only seems to come up when Runyan misses a couple days of practice, which he did this week due to a knee contusion. But he always finds a way to make it on to the field come Sunday.
It appears that despite the injury, the streak is safe for now. Runyan practiced Friday and, barring a setback, will notch No. 142 this Sunday in St. Louis.
"It's remarkable," head coach Andy Reid said of Runyan's streak. "For the position he plays, it's not an easy thing to do. For the style of football he plays, it's probably even more amazing."
Offensive coordinator Brad Childress also lauded his durability.
"He has a great way of answering the bell. He sure has," said offensive coordinator Brad Childress. "He's got a track record and he's beat up a little bit, as is most of our football team right now at this juncture. But yeah, I expect him to be there."
Runyan said the key for him is to get to Sunday.
"You can get through the swelling and the pain, until it's gone you tend to deal with it," said Runyan. "I think the biggest part is just getting to the game. Once you're in the game, you really don't feel that kind of stuff."
The streak started on August 31, 1997 when he was part of a Tennessee Oilers offensive line that helped running back Eddie George amass a club-record tying 216 rushing yards against Oakland. The streak was even kept alive when the Eagles rested their starters in the final pair of games last season.
"There are not that many people who have done it (reached 200 straight games)," said Runyan. "It's something you think about every now and then. 200 is still a few years away. That's something I still have to work on, but it's out there."
Runyan was signed by the Eagles as a free agent in 2000 and has started all 93 games he's played in as an Eagle. In 2000, he was part of the first offensive line in Philadelphia to start with the same combination in every game since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule in 1978. Only four teams in the entire league completed that feat in 2000.
Runyan has only missed two games in his entire football career. Both games were in 1994 when Runyan was a standout at the University of Michigan. There were times early in his NFL career, before the streak became the streak, that Runyan wasn't sure if he was going to be able to play.
"Before I ever started thinking about (the streak), there were a few games earlier in my career that I was questionable to play in but I did anyway," said Runyan. "It's the kind of thing now where if the doctor says you're not going to hurt yourself any further playing, why not? It's stuff that you can deal with."
What has been Runyan's secret?
He's tried different therapies.
"There's natural oils and things you throw on there, but you don't know if it really works or not," said Runyan. "Hey, it's worth a shot."
He thanked his parents.
"There's a lot of genetics in there too," said Runyan. "I got decent size on both sides of the family, so I have a stable body."
And a little bit of it, well, let's just knock on wood.
"That's something to say about not getting a major injury or tearing anything, that's the big thing," said Runyan. "That has a lot to do with it."
Runyan has been able to stay healthy, but the rest of the offensive line has not been as fortunate. The only other offensive lineman to start in every game this season has been guard Shawn Andrews.
Center Hank Fraley and left tackle Tra Thomas are on Injured Reserve and guard Artis Hicks did not play against Green Bay or Seattle because of an MCL sprain.
And with young kids like Jamaal Jackson, Adrien Clarke and Todd Herremans filling in, Runyan has served as a teacher of sorts this season.
"He's done a nice job with the young kids," Reid said. "They all look up to him and respect him."