Offensive Lineman Jon Runyan Jr.

Q. What was it like growing up watching your dad go against the Giants and going against (Former Giants Defensive End) Michael Strahan?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah, my dad played for the Eagles for nine years. I grew up in South Jersey. I kind of understand the whole NFC east rivalry between all these teams here. It's some tough, gritty football.

Watching my dad and Michael go at it twice a year was always fun growing up, watching it go down on Monday night or Sunday Night Football. I'm just happy to be part of it. It's a special part of my childhood, and excited to go forward and implement my own story.

Q. I know you played both sides. Are you more comfortable on the left or the right?

JON RUNYAN: I've kind of split both sides left and right my whole career. If I were to choose, I probably would say left, but I feel comfortable on both sides of the ball. It doesn't really matter. My whole career I've just always wanted to get on the field and stay on the field and play football, and that's what I'm here to do.

Q. Can you take us through the process of how you ended up with the Giants? Did you feel like you had a lot of offers? Did the Giants call your agent right at noon? How did that happen?

JON RUNYAN: We kind of had an inclination early on in the process of gathering information, kind of got a handful teams that were showing a lot of interest early on and felt like the Giants were definitely at the top of the list. As things went on and Monday morning noon came along, the Giants and couple other teams were early to throw offers in. I was really excited that the Giants really proved to me that they liked me a lot. Being close to home, too, my home base is just about an hour and a half from here, so being able to do that, being in New York, a great football city, I'm just so excited to be here. Really excited to be a Giant.

Q. Kind of like Philadelphia, the offensive line in New York, it's not a place offensive linemen fly under the radar. There is a lot of attention paid to the offensive line in New York because when they were winning Super Bowls it was great, and in the last ten years they haven't been able to figure it out. How do you accept that challenge of offensive linemen getting a lot of the attention here, and how confident are you that you can be a piece to finally fix it and (offensive lineman) Jermaine (Eluemunor), too.

JON RUNYAN: Definitely. I've only watched so much from the outside. I don't really know everything that's going on here. I'm just coming in hardworking, great attitude, and try to fit in here and mesh with these guys. I think we've got some really good pieces here and it's going to take a little bit. It's only March. Training camp is however many months away, but I'm excited to get to work with these guys and get to know them. I feel like we've got a good group of guys and we'll be ready by the time the season comes around. I think we'll start really building that toughness and that edge that, like you guys have said, has been missing on the o-line for ten years. That's the direction this team has to go. It has to start up front with this o-line, and we're really going to carry that on our backs.

Q. I believe Michael wished you well publicly on Twitter or one of the avenues. What does that relationship that your dad had with him and now Michael is the one reaching out as well to congratulate you mean to you?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah, it's awesome. My dad and Michael, even though on the field they were bitter rivals, after the game I remember for years and years every year Michael would always be waiting outside the team bus. He and my dad would always chat it up after the games. I would being standing right there. Obviously at the time I was a big Eagles fan. Always a huge fan of Michael, even though he and my dad had such hard and physical battles throughout the years. But it's really awesome. It kind of feels like it's coming full circle. I remember Michael being generous enough to invite me and my family to his Hall of Fame induction in Canton. That was really special, too. I know Michael is laughing and feels like he has a leg up on my dad that he was able to pull me here to the Giants. It's a really awesome moment, and I'm sure Michael is giving my dad a lot of stuff for that. I'm so fired up to be here and be a Giant and be over here in New York.

Q. I appreciate that answer. Have you heard from Michael since you were drafted personally?

JON RUNYAN: I haven't heard from him personally, but I know he has communication with my dad. I'm sure they talk a lot. Not directly to me, but I know they do.

Q. The game has changed somewhat since your dad played. What lessons have you learned from him that you have taken forth in your career and how have they played out for you?

JON RUNYAN: Yeah, my dad played 14 years in the NFL, and rarely missed a game, and that's not by mistake. Over the years he's instilled a work ethic and attitude and sense of toughness that you're going to be out there and play for your team. That's how I've felt about playing football my whole career going back to Michigan and being with the Packers and coming here. I haven't missed a game in my professional career. That's something I take a lot of pride in. My versatility, dependability, that's what I'm excited to come here and bring to New York.

Q. Did you also in high school or college, at any point, wrestle or do anything to improve balance or help you with offensive line play?

JON RUNYAN: That's one thing that I did not do, but I wish I did. I wish growing up I would've done a little bit of wrestling in high school. Other than that, I played basketball a lot. That was one sport that my family really pushed me to play. Me and my sisters played basketball because I feel like that's a great kind of game to transition to offensive line play with all the sudden quick movements, and especially for a big guy, planting footwork. So that was definitely something I wish I did, I wish I wrestled, but I was more of a basketball player growing up.

Q. So much is made about the Giants-Eagles rivalry. You mentioned you've been on that one part of it. Did it ever get to the point where when these couple of teams were interested in you and that you looked at it, did the Giants ever get a mark against or did you ever think about what it would be like to play for the Giants because you were such a devoted Eagles fan?

JON RUNYAN: That's a good question. Not really. Growing up I obviously was an Eagles fan for a long time, but that went away once I started understanding that there was potential of me being able to play in the NFL. Then I got drafted by the Packers in 2020, so from there on out, I no longer have any Eagles fandom in my body at all. I'm excited to be here in New York, and there is no marks against any team. I just wanted to go to a place that I felt like I was wanted and appreciated, and I found that in New York.

I'm going to try to give back to them and give them my all out there every Sunday.

Q. Have you had a chance to speak with (Offensive Line Coach) Carmen Bricillo?

JON RUNYAN: I did.

Q. What's your impressions early on? Any previous relationship with him?

JON RUNYAN: I did. I met him in the hallway quickly before this. Me and him have a funny history. Back in 2019 he was with the Patriots, and he came to Michigan. I was with my buddy (Patriots guard) Mike Onwenu, and we were sitting there. They were running us through a meeting before our pro day, and as soon use that meeting was over, he let us know that our pro day got canceled because there was this thing called COVID-19 going around. That was kind of a like a where-were-you moment when you found out about that. Good to see him again, and excited to get to work with him and the rest of the guys in the room.

Q. Was there any hesitation about coming to a team that gave up 85 sacks last year?

JON RUNYAN: No, no hesitation in that. There is not much I can do to change what's happened in the past. I'm just focused on going forward and building this team and this unit. (Quarterback) Daniel Jones, when he's on his feet and healthy, he's a dangerous quarterback and he showed that two years ago. Keeping him on his feet and healthy and run game going, that's going to start-up front and that's a big responsibility that you have when you decide to play the offensive line position. We're going to take a lot of pride in that. We're going to work hard every day. Just try to get better and do whatever we can to make the Giants team go forward and win the NFC East. That's the goal and get in the playoffs.

Offensive Lineman Jermaine Eluemunor

Q. I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone more excited to join the Giants. Certainly not in my seven years doing this. Why is that, especially given the context of they haven't won very much in the last seven years?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: For me, my excitement comes from this franchise as a whole. I grew up in Jersey when I moved from London. Also, the first team I ever saw play football was the Giants, and that helmet and that uniform just sticks out to me. It's known across the world. For me coming here to this franchise was always a dream. You say they haven't won that much, but I've watched them a number of times. Who knows? Maybe I'm the missing piece for helping them get towards that. My goal is to help them win and be on the offensive line and protect (quarterback) Daniel (Jones) and open up holes for the running backs and let the receivers catch the balls down the field and do my job. At the end of the day, I'm here to do my job and to help this team win and add on to the culture. I feel like they have a really good culture here with (Head Coach Brian) Daboll and (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator) Mike Kafka. I'm really excited to be here. I think this team is really on the up and up, and like I said, I'm really excited to play a part in that.

Q. You grew up here so you know this, or at least you went to high school here. Some places offensive linemen fly under the radar. That definitely is not the case with the Giants. We pay an incredible amount of attention to the offensive line in good times and bad. How do you feel about kind of that spotlight and the pressure that comes with trying to rebuild an offensive line that gave up 85 sacks last year?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Shoot, I love the pressure. I feel like I thrive under that. You know, playing tackle in the NFL, you're already under a bunch of pressure. You could have 60 good plays but if you have one bad play, that's all everyone is going to talk about. I had to deal with that this year. I would have really good games and that one play, that's all everyone talks about. How you recover from that and play the next week is really all that matters in my opinion. The Giants, I know that all the eyes are on you, and everyone talks about the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. I feel like those are the two most talked about teams in the NFL. Being an offensive lineman here I'm really excited for the opportunity and the challenge of that also, and to get out there against the great defenses we're going to play against this year and the great d-lines. I love the challenge, if I'm being honest with you. I think you can watch me on film and see how I do under pressure. I've been under pressure a lot in my career, especially coming from where I came from to go from there to where I am right now. To be at this point in my career where I feel like I'm finally hitting my stride, I'm really excited for that and to play my role on this team and help the guys around me get better and be that vet presence. I'm only 29, but I'm the vet in the room, which sucks, because I'm still a young guy, too. I'm really excited to meet (tackle Andrew Thomas) AT, meet (tackle) Evan (Neal), (center John Michael Schmitz) JMS and (offensive lineman Jon) Runyan. I feel like there is a lot of talent there and a lot of potential. Like I said, I hope I can be just one of the people that helps uplift everyone and help everyone reach their potential. There are a lot of guys in that room that have already reached their potential, but they can still play at a higher level. I'm one to believe that you can always be better than you already are, so I'm going to help bring that to the o-line room, bring the positivity and bring the energy, and hopefully that translates to the field. We're going to work hard. I know (Offensive Line Coach) Carm (Bricillo) is going to push us and work us and I'm really excited for the challenge.

Q. You mentioned role. Do you have an idea what you expect your role to be at this point, or haven't you got there yet?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: No. That's one thing that has helped me get to this position right now, is my versatility. I've played left tackle, left guard, right guard, right tackle. We have a really good left tackle. Evan Neal is a really good player in my opinion. I think he has a lot of potential. I'm really excited to play with Runyan and JMS. I'll play where I'm needed. That's my thing, and I think that's what's helped me stay in the league this long and get to the position, is I'm really versatile. Wherever I'm needed and whatever helps the team is where I'm going to be.

Q. The Giants offensive line has been a sore point, what does it take to make a good offensive line and how can you help that?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: I think it takes hard work, determination, and just grit. You have to be able to put your hand in the dirt and just hit someone in the mouth and come back and do it again and again and again and again. No offensive line is perfect. The best tackles in the league in my opinion, AT is one, I think (Eagles left tackle) Lane (Johnson) is another, (Lions left tackle) Penei (Sewell), (49ers left tackle) Trent (Williams). You can watch the film and there is always going to be the one play they could have done better. No one is perfect and no one is going to play a perfect game. It's not like you're a baseball player and you're going to strike out for eight straight innings. I don't think that's possible as an offensive lineman. You're always going to have that play where you know you could have done better. You have to have the mentality of next play, next play, next play, and I think that when you have that type of mentality, but then also you are determined and know what's coming, you prepared the entire week for the one game, one play, you know they're going to give you their everything. When you stop that, that's when you can become a really good offensive line. To anticipate what they're going to do and stop that. Once you do that, then you're in their head. Once you're in their head, you can do whatever you want in the game. That's the way I think, and I'm really excited to get around the guys in the offensive line room. If I can be that vet presence for them and be a leader and just add on to what they're already doing, I think we have the potential to be a really good offensive line. Like you said, I'm sure they've come under scrutiny the past couple years. Runyan, really good player. Evan Neal has a lot of the potential and excited to get around him. JMS was a rookie last year and it's hard to play in this league as a rookie. I remember my rookie year I sucked if I'm being honest with you. So, getting thrown into the fire as a rookie, as a center, that's fricking impressive. And then AT, he's Pro Bowler, all pro. He just needs to keep doing what he's doing. I want to mesh into the group and add on to whatever they're doing and like I said be that positive person and bring the energy and just be a leader in that room and just continue to add on to what we're doing and keep improving.

Q. You mentioned Carm before. Obviously you were with him in Vegas. Just curious if you had a scouting report, and was it important for you when you were considering your options to kind of follow here with the Giants or was that just an added bonus?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, I mean, if you really look at my production, my best two years came under Carm. To have someone like him that just believes in you and is going to go to war and bat for you up in that room up there and give you tough love and also do what needs to be done and help you in ways that you need to be helped, that goes a long way. I've been around the league long enough to know that not every team is blessed to have an o-line coach that knows the game like him but then is also going to be as technical as him and knows the things he knows. He got to study under one of the best o-line coaches, if not the best o-line coach that ever coached in the NFL, (Former Patriots Offensive Line Coach) Dante Scarnecchia. To have that experience, that's huge. I think that will be really huge for the young guys to learn from him and take his coaching to help them take that next step in their progression as an offensive lineman.

Q. How aware are you when you come here and ask for the number 72 of the recent legacy of the team that you talked about watching for the first time back in 2007 and who wore that and his run to the NFL?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, (Former Giants Defensive End) Osi (Umenyiora) is my guy. I asked him if I could wear that number because they asked me if I wanted to wear 72, but I knew the history behind it, the player that wore it, and really represented that number well for the Giants. I asked him about it, and he said, absolutely, do your thing. I made a promise to him that I will make sure I play to an extremely high level for him and match his energy on the field. If you watch him, you can see the energy he brought to the game and the excitement and just how happy he was to play the game. I plan to follow suit and try to recreate that. But as offensive linemen if you watch my film, I think you see I bring excitement and passion and love of this game. I love being the offensive lineman. It's the coolest thing in the world to put your hands in the dirt and just hit people for fun and get paid to do it, and you can do it with a smile on your face, too. I'm really excited for that. I was over the moon that 72 was available. To get to represent him and the number 72 as a Giant, that's dream come true for me.

Q. I'm so excited that you mentioned Dante Scarnecchia. I had a one-on-one opportunity with him several years ago. He told me his philosophy with the offensive linemen that he coaches is: You give me the effort, I'll coach the rest and make you the best you can be. Is that something, whether he said those exact words to you, or you had a conversation with him, is that what you're talking about when it comes to being an O-linemen?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: 100%. I think with Scar, his main lesson was if you give me everything you have, I'll handle the rest. I will do everything that needs to be done to help you be as successful as possible. Keep you in the league as long as you can and do everything I can for you. I think that's the same thing as offensive linemen. You have to be able to give everything you have every single day. Some days will suck. You'll wake up sore, beat up, can't really walk great. Your ankle is swollen, knee swollen, hands hurt, fingers are all messed up. You have to have that dog inside of you to be like look, today is probably going to suck, but I'm going to give it everything I have and if I do that then I got better. I'm a true believer in getting 1% better every single day. That is something Carm preaches that as well. What can you do today to make yourself better than you were yesterday. I'm a firm believer in that. Having that mentality is a big part of being an offensive lineman. You can ask any offensive linemen in the NFL do you feel 100% every day? Some will say they haven't been 100% since their rookie year. It is hard to find a player in the NFL right now that gives everything they have and ask them if they're 100%. I bet you a lot of them will say no. As an offensive lineman, you have to find that place where you're comfortable at being uncomfortable. That's the biggest thing in my opinion. You're never ever going to be comfortable there is always going to be someone out there that's gunning for your position. There is always going to be that defensive lineman that's the next big thing, the NFL is hyping him up. He's a monster. He's this. He's that. But you've got find that place within you where you're going to go out there and lock him up and dominate him where everyone is going to be talking about you or the next guy, and you keep going. So that's my mentality, as an offensive lineman. Next play, 1% better every single day, and be comfortable being uncomfortable.

Q. I just want to follow up on Carm if I could. Talk a little bit about how he has worked with you to make you into the player that you are. Obviously, you had growth every year in the league. What specifically has Carmen done to get timeout level that you're at now?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, well, I met Carm my first year in New England and it was his first year, too. He got hired from Youngtown State. Me and Carm have really grown together in the league. If you really look at every year, I've only not been with Carm for one year of my career, which is when I got to Vegas with Jon Gruden. Me and Carm, our progression has been similar, him as a coach and me as a player. It's having that trust in him and belief that if I give him everything I have he is going to give me everything he has, and he is going to coach me hard and love me harder, and I'm going to go out there and do everything I can to just show how good of a coach Carm is. I think he's gotten a lot better as a coach over the last couple years because he's really started believing in himself and he is a really talented coach, and he can really coach people and help them improve their game. I think you see that with the offensive lines we've had in Las Vegas. We haven't had the best record, but if you really look at the offensive line, we've been pretty dominant, and that's because of Carm's teaching and then also our love of the game. Me, (tackle) Kolton (Miller), (center) Andre James, (guard) Dylan Parham, last year (guard) Alex Bars was at right guard. We built chemistry and we listened to Carm in meetings. During practice he worked us hard and we love that. Then we're able to go out on Sunday and dominate people. That's what he brings to you this game. He is going to coach you hard, but then love you harder, and also if you trust him and listen to him, you do the drills right, you're going to go out there and be pretty (darn) successful.

Q. Carm also believes in position flexibility. Is that correct?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yes, 100%.

Q. I just had a quick question: I imagine you've since talked to Carm. What was his response or the communication you had with him once you found out you were coming to New York?

JERMAINE ELUEMUNOR: Yeah, he was excited. I got to talk to him yesterday when the new league year started. He was just over the moon. For me to be able to be under him more and learn more and continue my progression in the NFL is a really a dope thing. I don't think a lot of guys get the opportunity I have to be with the same coach in three different positions and three different teams, New England, Las Vegas, and now the Giants. That's really huge for me because I've been with him for so long. He knows me like a book, and I know him like a book, and we can just feed off each other's energy and I can go out there and continue to add on to what I did last year and the progression I made last year. I feel like I made huge leaps. I'm really excited to keep learning under him and keep progressing as an offensive lineman.

Running Back Devin Singletary

Q. Obviously you're stepping into some pretty big shoes here. How do you look at being the guy that's called upon, the first guy to replace Saquon Barkley?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Saquon is great. Everyone knows that. I'm just happy to be a Giant. I'm looking forward to a great opportunity here, and I'm ready to get to work. That's how I'm looking at it.

Q. Do you look at it as filling all those same roles that he did, or are you just being you?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: That's what it really comes down to, me just being me, ready to help the team win any way that I can. That's what I'm looking forward to.

Q. And one more. Obviously you're familiar with (Head Coach) Brian Daboll's offense. Was that a perk for you in coming here? And then how do you explain that you actually had better numbers last year in the Texans offense than you ever did with Daboll?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: I am familiar with the offense. Like I said, I just wanted an opportunity to come somewhere to help the team win, you know what I'm saying? Like I said, I'm happy to be a Giant.

It doesn't have anything to do with Dabs, I've been in the offense and all that. I'm just ready to get to work more than anything.

Q. Just to follow up on what you said, what is you being you?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Smart, dependable. I'm a guy that's always going to come in to work. Great energy every day. That's me being me.

Q. Are you a shifty runner? Can you run with power? How do you play mostly?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah, I feel like I can do it all, to be honest. Whatever needs to be done, I feel like I've been blessed with the ability to do it all. That's the best way I can sum it up.

Q. Here's my final question. This is the dumb one. I mean, obviously you want to be you. Do you wear 26?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah, yeah, I'm wearing 26. I had 26 since I came into the league. That's the number I'm sticking with.

Q. I understand you're not playing through the Buffalo (General Manager Joe) Schoen and Daboll anymore, but is there a comfort in knowing the head coach as well as you presumably do?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: Yeah, Dabs is a great guy. I was with him for three years. I am happy to be here with Dabs and Joe. If that answers your question...

Q. No, it does. I appreciate that. For you, how do you think you've grown? You've been a couple of different places now. How do you think you've grown since Buffalo fans have seen you and what Giants fans are going to see from you?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: I think I've grown a lot all of the way across the board. Mentally, just knowing the game. I've got a lot of experience. I think I've grown, and I'm still growing. That's the name of the game – keep finding ways to get better, keep finding ways to improve. I think I've grown a lot.

Q. Just on that Joe Schoen, Dabs familiarity thing. Did you expect the Giants to be interested in you when free agency opened?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: To be honest, I didn't know. I let my agents and everything handle it. I just wanted to be in a great situation more than anything. Once I found out that it was Giants, I was hyped. That's where I was at with that.

Q. So you obviously were a free agent last year where you signed a one year deal, you signed a longer deal and more money this year. What do you think you showed, and how much better does it feel to have more security on this deal?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: I think I feel like, with the opportunity, I can make things happen. I'm smart, dependable. Just ready to get to work. That's where I'm at with it.

Q. I think every year of your career, if I'm not mistaken, you have been the team leader in rushing yardage, which means I would imagine you've had a high volume of rushing attempts. With the Giants, have they indicated if you're going to be the lead back, or is it going to be more of a committee approach? Do you prefer being part of a committee as opposed to maybe a lead back or vice versa?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: We haven't spoken much on that. Like I said before, whatever I need to do to help the team to win, that's what I'm here for. If that's being the lead back, if that's being committee, whatever it may be, as long as I'm helping the team win, I'm cool with that.

Q. Some running backs, though, feel that they need to carry the rock 15-plus times. Some are fine with fewer snaps. Where do you stand on that?

DEVIN SINGLETARY: That's the game. As a running back, receiver, anything, if you get in a groove, it helps. You know, if that answers your question.