Chad Pennington, The Perfect Mentor?

by David_Wyatt on Dec 6, 2009 6:33 AM EST Comment 15 comments

The Jets Blog asked a good question earlier this week about the possibility of Chad Pennington returning to the Jets next year to act as a back-up, a coach, a mentor to Mark Sanchez.

First of all I'm one of Chad's biggest fans, when we released him in favour of Brett Favre I thought it was a good idea because we couldn't hold both and Favre was a nice change of direction, but I wished Chad the best and looked forward to seeing where he landed, when Chad joined the rival Dolphins it angered me quite a lot, in time I have come to deal with it though, and watching him go down with another shoulder injury was very painful.

However during the Jets game in Miami I remember seeing a sign by a group of Jets fans wishing their best to Chad and telling him to get well soon, it just showed me that although he joined a rival, he is still well thought of in Jets circles.

I'm doubtful as to whether he would accept a back-up roll, I'm sure he believes that he can still start but with this latest injury, being 33 now, perhaps he is more open to the possibility of being a back-up and mentor to the young Jets QB.

Would he be able to return? let's not forget that this is the same front office who unceremoniously dumped him so we could bring in a guy who obviously didn't want to be here. He went to Miami, was welcomed with open arms and did what he was asked to do, be a game manager.

What have been some of the criticisms of Sanchez so far, mainly decision making and accuracy, so who better to mentor him than a man renowned for both of these aspects. So say he was ready to settle for a back-up role next year, would you as the Jets GM reach out to him?

Remember that Clemens will be gone after this season, and Ainge and O'Connell as the 2nd QB? that will be giving me nightmares all through the summer/

Poll

Chad Pennington, bring him in to mentor Sanchez?

He would be the perfect mentor to Sanchez, I think there is a chance he returns

138 votes

Been there, done that, pass

19 votes

Would love it, but he won't come back after the way he departed

107 votes

264 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I think with Rex here he could convince Chad to come back. Maybe it was Mangini who was against Chad and I’m sure Tannanbaum would play that angle. With a lot of QB’s coming into the draft I’m not sure where he would land and he could start and be a mentor to one of those QB’s. But he always seemed like he loved NY and their fans so he might return. I would feel very comfortable if he ever had to step in for Sanchez and of course he would be a great mentor. I read elsewhere that Parcells loves Chad and that he is going to try and persuade him to remain with the Dolphins in a coaching role.

by chrebetsthebet on Dec 6, 2009 7:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

interesting point about rookie qbs coming in. isn’t the usual model to have a vet start a few games and have the rookie watch. since chad is the paragon of smart veteran QBing, it wouldn’t surprise me for a team to pursue him to start the first 8 games somewhere. since we wouldn’t be offering that, maybe he’d go elsewhere.

that said, I love Chad. I would love to see him back here.

by JetsFan1991 on Dec 6, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It would be a great idea. He’d be the best backup quarterback in the league. I just think the departure was too bitter for him to even consider it.

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by John B on Dec 6, 2009 8:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It was business

Maybe he took it personally, but he may very well prefer being a backup QB to whatever else his options are. I always thought he had starter potential and it seemed silly to detain him on the Jets roster in the backup role he may not even have taken.

Despite how injury prone he is, any team that takes him up for whatever role will get a steal of a price on good talent. Then again, we may never see him again.

by Bro Namath on Dec 6, 2009 9:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

and it’s usually business when they sign with the rivals. Chad’s no Brett.

by Bro Namath on Dec 6, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing is you can bet Miami’s already going to make him an offer to stay on as Henne’s backup/mentor. If all things are equal, it’s tough to imagine him picking the Jets over the Dolphins.

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by John B on Dec 6, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he’s too professional not to sign with us if that was the best thing career-wise. I’m sure he’ll pick a job where he can play over just a coaching job. If he doesn’t land somewhere else as a starter, the Jets would probably be ideal for Chad. He knows the system and Schotty likes him.

The question is, if Sanchez goes down, do we really want Chad out there?

It was interesting that Rex gave Clemens a game ball after the game. Did he genuinely think Kellen deserved it, or was he just preparing to rally the team behind him in case Mark’s injury was serious?

and the home of the... JETS!!!

by dvdvil on Dec 6, 2009 9:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Has to be the latter, nobody thought he deserved it, not even Kellen’s mother would think he deserved it. I think it was just a ‘just in case’ type symbolic gesture, and probably a little bit of although you looked like you were doing everything to lose this game you actually didn’t manage it.

If Chad did come back and Sanchez went down, I would be more than comfortable starting him, sure the deep threat is not there but he can throw a lot further than people give him credit for, he would hit around 75% of the passes.

I was actually asked this question earlier on twitter in response to this article, if Chad had been the starter this year, how many games would we have won? I had to say 7 or more likely 8. I know ‘what if’s’ are very dangerous and shaky ground, and I’m not saying I would prefer him to be the starter as most of us here are pretty high on Sanchez, but just answering honestly. What do others think to that

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by David_Wyatt on Dec 6, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seeing as we lost some games due to interceptions, having a QB with one of the highest passer ratings would probably have given us a few more wins, especially with an O-line that can protect him and run the ball and a defense that can give them more possessions.

and the home of the... JETS!!!

by dvdvil on Dec 6, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel like Chad could have gone a long way with a defense and run game like the Jets have now.

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by John B on Dec 6, 2009 3:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Long and the Short of it...

Its a thin QB pool this summer. As thin as it is, no one is going to gamble on Pennington as a starter.

The only other reasonable QBs are Leftwhich, Campbell, Boller.

Now Leftwhich and Cambpell might get another chance to start somewhere else, and the Rams might keep Boller. The reality is, between Boller and Pennington I’d want Chad, just because he’s been a winner.

I think Pennington’s problem was more with Mangini. Mangini never liked him and was always trying to get rid of him despite having no other options. I think he’d come back.

"So basically, the Stats make no sense whatsoever."

by WebBard on Dec 6, 2009 6:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chad is tailor-made for the Jets right now...

Great O-line and strong run game would allow him to play action pass (which is his strength). That coupled with a really good defense is a recipe for going deep into the playoffs.

Unfortunately you can’t undo whats been done. You can’t unring the bell. He’s gone.

by Crackback on Dec 6, 2009 8:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs