A lot of the hardest knocks Jon Runyan took in professional football he didn't see coming, and in that regard, he says the sport is not dissimilar from politics - where an email or phone call blast can drop out of nowhere and potentially cause a painful, earth-bound detour. 

"You don't know what's coming in football, and you can get blindsided," said the Republican, who launches his Congressional campaign tomorrow evening in Mount Laurel in hopes of securing Republican Party backing to run against U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill).

"In my last game against the Jets, I got knocked off my feet - there's a lot of carry over. It's a negative enviornment, you're criticized for what you've done wrong, not what you've done right. You have to pick yourself up and believe in what you're doing."

Runyan said he feels no specific conviction about pursuing a seat in a deliberative body rather than an executive position. 

"It was the opportunity that presented itself," he said. "It was available. At any level, who you are and how you apply your beliefs to it is what matters. It was prsented to me, and I didn't like the direction of the country. What better position to really change the direction of where we're going?"

Runyan said his challenge after he formally enters the campaign tomorrow is to remind voters of the underpinnings of his story.  

"A lot of people are going to have the perception of a celebrity athlete, and part of the campaign will be to emphasize that Flint, Michigan work ethic I was taught as a child, dealing with my father being unemployed - a midwest lunch pail mentality. I don't know a lot of career politicians who have the experience of living that life."

On the verge of the campaign, Runyan said he's enyoying retirment so far - or at least enjoying a break from physical pain.

"It's been awesome," he said. "I can actually get out of bed in the morning. You endure a beating on your body for so long, I'm grateful to stilll be able to function properly."

"The timing was right for this," he added. "I always knew it would take an injury to get me out of the game, and it did. It's a great time to do this. I know it's going to be a lot of hard work and dedication. Different game, same mindset."