chiefzilla1501
08-30-2009, 10:40 PM
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090826_Runyan_cleared_to_play__but_return_to_Eagles_unlikely.html
Runyan cleared to play, but return to Eagles unlikely
By PAUL DOMOWITCH
Philadelphia Daily News
pdomo@aol.com
Jon Runyan is ready to play football again. Now he just needs somebody to offer him a contract.
The 35-year-old free-agent offensive tackle, who had microfracture surgery on his right knee in February, was cleared for full contact Monday by Dr. James Andrews, the Birmingham, Ala., orthopedist who operated on him.
"I can play," Runyan said. "I'm not the smoothest in the world right now. But I can still get the job done. We're sure it's healed. Now the biggest thing is just getting back. Getting over the mental aspect of throwing your leg into the ground. And that's only going to happen when you prove to yourself that you can do it.
"You can only do so many drills and run so many sprints. Eventually, you have to get out there and hit somebody and say, 'Wow, it didn't hurt.' "
Runyan, who has started 192 straight regular-season games, has no workouts scheduled with any teams yet, but is confident he will be playing this season.
"It'll definitely happen," he said. "Whether it's next week when everybody's juggling their rosters, or a few weeks after that, I'll wait and see what happens.
"It's just a matter of timing right now. You never know what's going to happen from week to week. Somebody goes down and all of a sudden, [a team] is in a bind. I'm not in a big hurry."
Runyan, who spent nine seasons as the Eagles' starting right tackle, became an unrestricted free agent in March. The Eagles had planned to replace him with guard Shawn Andrews. But Andrews, who missed 14 games last season with a herniated disc in his back, reinjured his back on the first day of training camp and has yet to practice.
Despite Andrews' "Hell, yeah" declaration Monday that he'll be able to play in the Eagles' Sept. 13 season opener against Carolina, that is far from a certainty. Winston Justice will make his third preseason start tomorrow at right tackle for the Eagles.
Coach Andy Reid said 2 weeks ago that he hadn't completely closed the door to the possibility of re-signing Runyan. But they have yet to invite him in for a workout or physical.
Asked yesterday whether the Eagles had any interest in re-signing Runyan, an Eagles executive told the Daily News, "I wouldn't rule it out, but right now, it's unlikely."
Runyan said he is willing to wait for the right offer.
"It has to be right," he said. "Ultimately, the game is about making a bunch of money. If it's not there now, at some point in the first couple months of the season I'm pretty sure it's going to be there. It's just a matter of mentally preparing yourself for that and keeping yourself ready to go."
Runyan and his family live in Mount Laurel, N.J., but he said he will play wherever the best opportunity - and offer - presents itself.
"With the uncertainty over the CBA and everything, I'm probably looking at a 1-year contract," he said. "So what are you looking at? Four-and-a-half months maybe? You can't really turn anything down for 4 1/2 months' work."
Runyan cleared to play, but return to Eagles unlikely
By PAUL DOMOWITCH
Philadelphia Daily News
pdomo@aol.com
Jon Runyan is ready to play football again. Now he just needs somebody to offer him a contract.
The 35-year-old free-agent offensive tackle, who had microfracture surgery on his right knee in February, was cleared for full contact Monday by Dr. James Andrews, the Birmingham, Ala., orthopedist who operated on him.
"I can play," Runyan said. "I'm not the smoothest in the world right now. But I can still get the job done. We're sure it's healed. Now the biggest thing is just getting back. Getting over the mental aspect of throwing your leg into the ground. And that's only going to happen when you prove to yourself that you can do it.
"You can only do so many drills and run so many sprints. Eventually, you have to get out there and hit somebody and say, 'Wow, it didn't hurt.' "
Runyan, who has started 192 straight regular-season games, has no workouts scheduled with any teams yet, but is confident he will be playing this season.
"It'll definitely happen," he said. "Whether it's next week when everybody's juggling their rosters, or a few weeks after that, I'll wait and see what happens.
"It's just a matter of timing right now. You never know what's going to happen from week to week. Somebody goes down and all of a sudden, [a team] is in a bind. I'm not in a big hurry."
Runyan, who spent nine seasons as the Eagles' starting right tackle, became an unrestricted free agent in March. The Eagles had planned to replace him with guard Shawn Andrews. But Andrews, who missed 14 games last season with a herniated disc in his back, reinjured his back on the first day of training camp and has yet to practice.
Despite Andrews' "Hell, yeah" declaration Monday that he'll be able to play in the Eagles' Sept. 13 season opener against Carolina, that is far from a certainty. Winston Justice will make his third preseason start tomorrow at right tackle for the Eagles.
Coach Andy Reid said 2 weeks ago that he hadn't completely closed the door to the possibility of re-signing Runyan. But they have yet to invite him in for a workout or physical.
Asked yesterday whether the Eagles had any interest in re-signing Runyan, an Eagles executive told the Daily News, "I wouldn't rule it out, but right now, it's unlikely."
Runyan said he is willing to wait for the right offer.
"It has to be right," he said. "Ultimately, the game is about making a bunch of money. If it's not there now, at some point in the first couple months of the season I'm pretty sure it's going to be there. It's just a matter of mentally preparing yourself for that and keeping yourself ready to go."
Runyan and his family live in Mount Laurel, N.J., but he said he will play wherever the best opportunity - and offer - presents itself.
"With the uncertainty over the CBA and everything, I'm probably looking at a 1-year contract," he said. "So what are you looking at? Four-and-a-half months maybe? You can't really turn anything down for 4 1/2 months' work."