Mark Herzlich long road back from cancer culminated in his first start for the New York Giants Sunday night, as he replaced injured linebacker Michael Boley. Herzlich has been used from special teams up to this point in the season.
“When the national anthem was playing, and I was out and knew I was going on the field, I closed my eyes and thought, ‘This was happening,’ “ Herzlich said. “So as long as I am playing football, I will give my 100 percent every game. That’s where I have to give my 100 percent, doing the right thing every play.”
Herzlich was an undrafted rookie out of Boston College, who has recovered from the rare form of bone cancer he was diagnosed with after his junior year. He came into the Giants camp as a free agent and impressed them sufficiently in the preseason to earn a spot on the roster, and this week he got his first start.
Herzlich made 4 tackles in the game, 2 of them solo tackles. Unfortunately, his debut was marred by the Giants’ loss to the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. Herzlich was frustrated with his play and the defense’s performance in the loss, particularly the 80-yard touchdown drive engineered by Vince Young that delivered the winning touchdown.
“An 18-play drive is not really acceptable,” he said.
“We know that as a defense. We can’t keep putting our offense in that position, where they need to drive down the field to score. We need to make some plays and stop them.”
