Giants’ guard Jon Runyan explains free agency decision

New York Giants offensive lineman Jon Runyan Jr. spoke Friday about his choice of the Giants over the New York Jets in free agency, and much more. Here are some of the takeaways.

Choosing the Giants over the Jets

‘Hard Knocks’ showed that Runyan had a choice between the Jets, where he has ties to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, and the Giants in free agency.

“I’ve got a really relationship with Coach [Nathaniel] Hackett over there, the OC and obviously I played with [Jets quarterback] Aaron [Rodgers] for three years and they have a lot of other Green Bay guys over there. So I kind of felt comfortable and I really thought that the Jets were going to kind of be at the forefront of that. And they came in, made an offer. In the end it all worked out, the money’s the money, whatever,” Runyan said. “But I really believe in, you know, what Joe (Schoen) and Brandon [Brown] and what Dabs [Brian Daboll] and Carm [Carmen Bricillo] and everybody else in the building is building here. I like how this team is built from top to bottom on the offensive side of the ball, especially we have playmakers all around. The O-line is going to be really solid. I firmly believe that. And we just got to give our quarterback time there to make plays. And other than that, it’s going to be really exciting.”

Runyan said he feels good about the Giants’ future.

“I’m not going to say anything about the Jets organization. You could say that they are built for right now mode, to go win a Super Bowl this year,” he said. “But I firmly believe in how this franchise here is built. I think they’re building not just for this year. I think they’re building for the next four or five years. So, that’s what really excited me about it. The fact that I come here, I feel really wanted here and welcome. It’s been amazing here.”

Right or left?

Runyan has played both right and left guard in his career, and has been working at right guard since the Giants began practicing in the spring. He knows he might have to move at some point, but would like to stay where he is.

“The whole flip-flopping thing is tough going from one side to the other, left to right,” Runyan said. “So, trying to build some cohesion with whatever side you’re going on. It’s tough going from left side to right side. Your whole body has to change. Everything’s just reflected and your whole eyes and feet and hands is all different. It’s nice being able to stick on one side and who knows, we’ll see.”

Developing chemistry with teammates

For Runyan, the key focus of training camp is building chemistry with his fellow offensive linemen.

“That’s what training camp is for right here,” Runyan said. “Long days, probably about 12, 13, 14-hour days. You got to make light of stuff going on and be able to find out who everybody is, what they’re about. There’s nothing else to do besides work together, talk together, hang out and chemistry is really coming along. It’s a really light group, but also when it’s time to work, it’s time to work and put our head down and we get to it.”

The toughness of Jermaine Eluemunor

The veteran offensive lineman practiced on Thursday and Friday, even taking 11-on-11 reps Friday, despite badly bruised ribs suffered when he was accidentally hit by 340-pound Dexter Lawrence on Wednesday.

Runyan said that kind of dedication is something teammates notice.

“I know Jermaine’s going through that little bruise that he got from Dexter’s shoulder. That would definitely hurt taking a large man’s shoulder right into your rib cage and you can tell he’s in a lot of pain, but he’s out there and he wants to be out there,” Runyan said. “Moving over to tackle, I feel like that’s really his natural position. He just wants to get on the field. It doesn’t matter where he’s going to play. It’s good to have him out there. It says a lot about a player when he goes out there and you can tell that he’s fighting through pain. He’s out there trying to better himself to better the team. I think guys take note of that. It was awesome having him back out there today.”