PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — You don’t have to caution Ryan Kerrigan about how passionate Eagles fans can be. He’s well aware of what it’s like being on the receiving end of that zeal.
For 10 years, Kerrigan played football in Washington — meaning he’d play two games against the Eagles each season. Whenever he and his teammates arrived at the Linc, fans always had plenty to say.
“I’ve been coming to Philly for 10 years,” he said. “I know what it’s like to play here. Coming in on the bus, we were often met with some not-very-kind words and gestures, but I always appreciated that because that means the fans care.”
Those words and gestures will likely be kinder this time around. Last week, the free-agent defensive end/linebacker agreed to a deal with the Eagles.
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Some were surprised to see a 10-year veteran come to a franchise that many believe is in rebuilding mode. Kerrigan said the enthusiasm among coach Nick Sirianni and his assistants convinced him to come to Philadelphia.
“The energy in the building was just so positive,” he said. “It was so good. From coach Sirianni to coach [Jonathan] Gannon to coach [Tracy] Rocker, you felt a good, positive sense of energy here.”
Kerrigan has taken on Eagles tackle Lane Johnson in a host of legendary one-on-one battles. Both men have a tremendous amount of respect for one another, and Kerrigan is looking forward to having Johnson as a teammate rather than a rival.
“He’s been impressive really since day one,” said Kerrigan. “Every year when the schedule would come out, I’d kind of look at when the two games against Philadelphia would be because I knew that’s when I would have to go against Lane those two times a year.”
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Some question how effective Kerrigan will be after dealing with injuries in recent years. He still managed to record 5 ½ sacks last season, and the Eagles believe even a part-time performance by Kerrigan will help their defense.
The organization is also counting on Kerrigan to mentor some of the younger members of the Eagles defense.
“I’ve been fortunate to be in this league a long time,” he added. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been able to gather a lot, whether it’s from different players, different coaches, different experiences. I feel like I’ve got a lot to pass on from the mental side of the game.”