Chad Pennington: Pursue or No?
by John B on Feb 15, 2010 8:16 AM EST
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PrintChad Pennington is one of the most polarizing players in Jets history. His eight year tenure created plently of arguments and discussions among fans as to whether he was good enough or could ever stay healthy long enough to carry Gang Green all the way. He had some great seasons like 2002 and 2004 and some devastating injuries before the Brett Favre trade forced him out.
Pennington went to Miami and again showed why fans could never come to a consensus on him. He led the Dolphins to a surprising division title in 2008 then promptly played a bomb of a game in the first round of the Playoffs against Rex Ryan's Ravens defense. Miami was one and done. He started for three straight losses Miami suffered at the start of 2009 and was then lost for the year with a shoulder injury.
You may question how good of a starter he's been, but I don't think there's any question he would be a great backup quarterback. The real irony is the Jets have finally built a team he would thrive on. A strong defense and running game would take all the pressure off him and put him into a game manager role. He would be asked to hit a pass every here and there. His use of play action is as good as any quarterback not named Peyton Manning. He's proven he can consistently get teams to the Playoffs if nothing else. The arm strength will always be an issue. He can't make every NFL throw but makes up to it to a degree with deadly accuracy. The bottom line is no backup quarterback is without warts. Compare him to other backups, and Chad would probably be the most effective.
He's also a great leader and team player. He would be a great guy to show Mark Sanchez the ropes. I don't just mean on the field either. Unlike any other active quarterback, Chad has the unique experience of knowing what it's like to be the future franchise quarterback of the Jets. He can help Mark mentally prepare on and off the field.
I know some of you have discussed the potential for a quarterback controversy with Pennington back in New York. I just don't see it. One quarterback is 23, has a $50 million contract, is coming off a great Playoffs, and has his best football in front of him. The other is 33 and coming off a third major shoulder injury. Maybe there will be a controversy among the fans, but a lot of them were calling for Sanchez's benching even without a decent backup this year. Rex Ryan wouldn't make a change.
The issue I see here is Pennington. There's absolutely no incentive for him to come back to New York. The end of his time here was bitter for him. Why would he want to come back to play a secondary role? He's damaged goods, but given the lack of quality quarterback play in this league, you have to think some team will at least give him a chance to compete for a starting job. Even if that doesn't happen, why wouldn't he choose to be a backup in Miami, where he loves it, and mentor Chad Henne over coming home.
I love Chad. I vote pursue, but I don't see it happening.
How do you vote?
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Lol, i love how this article is 2x as long as your other ones. Your man-crush on chad is showing ; )
haha, certainly understandable though, I think a lot of us fell in love with the guy and his integrity/loyalty/toughness, how can you not?
Also voted YES although see the chances of this happening as very slim. We lost him for good.
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I also voted yes
I didn’t vote the 2nd option because although I doubt he signs, I don’t think it’s completely pointless :[
I agree with that, it’s unlikely he signs, especially with the opportunity to compete at other teams and the way things ended, but Chad Pennington is one my top 3 favourite players to ever pull on a Jets jersey.
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One Year Deal
I don’t think there is anyone willing to touch him with a ten foot pole after his shoulder injuries even with all the teams that need a good QB.
I think by now everyone realizes that for some reason Mangini was obsessed with getting rid of Chad to the detriment of the team. His first moves in that direction were drafting Clemmens, signing Ramsey and declaring an open training camp for the QB Spot. Then the move for Farve and they didn’t even attempt to trade Pennington so he didn’t sign with division rival Miami.
We can sign him for a year, let him get some game snaps and work in the pre-season so he can show the league that he can still do it. This gives us a year of Pennington tutoring Sanchez. The value of that tutoring can not be put into monetary terms. Especially since when you bring in a good backup, he usually wants to challenge for the starter’s job (EG: Garcia)
The only other two QBs I wouldn’t mind seeing the Jets sign to backup Sanchez would be either Leftwhich (Has shown he can come in and make plays as a backup) or bring back Brooks Bollinger. Believe it or not Bollinger put up huge numbers in the UFL and was voted season MVP. The rest of the FA QBs are pretty awful.
"Martin is psychical" - In reference to Matt Martin being called up to the Islanders.
From a purely football standpoint, can he still play?
This is a guy with questionable arm-strength to begin with and he’s coming off his second major shoulder injury. Can he really be trusted to take the reigns if needed.
Can he mentor? Mark has already been further than Chad ever has, and he makes throws that Chad could never dream of. Exactly what is Chad going to teach Mark? Leadership? You have to admit theres a problem when the team’s former QB is giving you leadership pointers.
For those who want him back for purely sentimental reasons, keep in mind that the idea is to never see the guy. He would only sniff the field if Mark got injured or played his way off the field.
I don’t trust Chad to get the job done if called upon. And I think his presence has the possibility of being a major distraction, especially if Sanchez has to miss a few games due to injury. The potential harm outweighs the potential gain, IMO. Id mucch rather see a Garcia, Culpepper, etc.
Jets 41 Colts 0
Chad’s first playoff game…
"Martin is psychical" - In reference to Matt Martin being called up to the Islanders.
Even if I wanted Chad to come back, why waste a precious roster spot
Even if I wanted Chad to come back, it wouldn’t be possible for him to come back, at least to the Jets. Chad is an unrestricted free agent and since the Jets finished in the final Four, we can’t sign any unrestricted free agents unlesswe lose one of our own. There is no way that the Jets should waste any opportunies to sign free agents by pursuing Chad Pennington. I’m sure that many Jets fans love Chad and think that he is a classy guy but the NFL is not Romper Room and I honestly don’t think that Chad is capable of leading the Jets to a winning record, let alone to the Super Bowl. Its time to say goodbye to Chad and to move forward. Its clear that the Jets have clearly done so and hopefully they chose to stay away from Chad. That chapter is over and done with as far as I’m concerned.
Clemmens is gone
He’s actually said he thinks he can start in the league. So that frees up a space.
We don’t want Chad as a starter. We want him as a backup and to help mentor Sanchez. Despite his arm issues he has the highest Completion percentage in NFL history (or he might be #2 behind Warner, it was close).
Also its pretty obvious that we need a veteran backup, why not Chad? Most of the other QBs available have just as much downside.
"Martin is psychical" - In reference to Matt Martin being called up to the Islanders.
Clemens is a Restricted Free Agent so the final 4 restrictions do not apply to Clemens and even if he goes, it doesn’t allow the Jets the right to sign Pennington or any other UNRESTRICTED Free Agent. Basically the Jets can’t sign any Unrestricted Free Agents this year. We can make offers to restricted Free Agents and sign cut players or players that are released or waived. None of these things apply to Chad Pennington. Its time to face the fact that Chad Pennington will not be coming to the Jets this year, as a backup or starter. I don’t want Clemens either but regardless of whether we release clemens, we can’t pick up Pennington due to the restrictions placed on Final 4 teams in this Uncapped year.
Don’t we have to make a qualifying offer on Clemmens to make him a RFA? I thought if we don’t make a qualifying offer he becomes a UFA?
Also, I do believe that allows us to sign Leftwich though?
I’d be happy with either.
"Martin is psychical" - In reference to Matt Martin being called up to the Islanders.
Pennington belongs in JET green
There was a 4 word saying I had for Chad that I believe still applies. "Poise, Precision, Timing, Accuracy. I think the team really screwed him when they went after Farve. 2008 would have been his year with an offense like that.
If he would be willing to come back I think the team and Sanchez would be better off with him than without. But I voted on the second choice because I do not think he would come back. I wish him luck where ever he ends up.
Is it partly nostalgia for me? You bet it is. However I would also feel more confident having him just in case Sanchez was to go down, and having a guy who knows how to handle the NY media (remember Sanchez’s post game conference that was pretty damn uncomfortable), Chad is a check down guy, and Sanchez needs to learn that he needs to do that. Having Chad here is not going to make Sanchez check down every single time, but it will help him realise that sometimes it’s ok. I think Jets fans are intelligent enough to realise who the future is, and not be calling for Chad at the first sign of trouble:
Nostalgia……..what can I say, I’m a sentimentalist
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Tell me Dave, honestly...
If he wasn’t Chad Pennington, former starting QB for the NYJ, but just some other QB who never accomplished anything (no real resume) and coming off his second major surgery to his already weak throwing shoulder would you even consider this?
Interesting question Crack, I also follow Marshall so is he still coming from the Thundering Herd??? lol Seriously, if that player had a reputation as a good game manager, a great team mate, and the most accurate passer in NFL history, as well as knowing a lot of the play book, then I still would consider it. Obviously it’s hard to distinguish because if he hadn’t played for us, he really wouldn’t know the play-book at all, sure there have been a lot of changes to it, but he would have a head start. It’s a risk with the shoulder surgery, but I really don’t expect him to play, just teach.
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New York Jets
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Should probably add to that, that if he did have to play, I would have far more confidence in him than say someone like Culpepper or Leftwhich or Clemens. Chad will probably understand the concept of him not losing the game rather than him winning the game himself.
Writer/Assistant editor
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New York Jets
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I have a man crush on Chad
I have been a fan of his since his first season as a starter. He is a great leader and would be an outstanding player/coach for Sanchez and the rest of the offense. Would love to see him back in green. The way the Jets discarded him for that bum Favre was disrepecful for a guy that gave his all for the franchise. He may not want to come back but the Jets should at least show interest.
Jets green since 1997
A million yes'
He might not have the played the same as he did his first couple of seasons, and he may not have the deep ball, and he may be injury prone…
BUT
You will not find a classier, more mentally fit person for a no. 2 role mentoring a young QB, provided he’s willing to take it. To me that’s the only issue, whether or not he’s willing to take a job where he isn’t at least competing for a starting job. But he’s a realistic man and you’d have to think that he knows nobody in the league is going to start him anymore.
Mangini, the most influential person in the Favre saga, the guy who started Clemens over Chad halfway through a season, is gone. One would figure if Chad can make good with Woody then it’s on. The only face he’ll recognize on the field is Schotty Jr. and I’ve never been led to believe their relationship has been short of amicable.
Even though he’s not the guy I want starting the whole season, if he’s even physically capable, I can’t think of anybody I’d rather have under center managing the game if our boy goes down for any reason.
He’s cheap and looking for a job and other teams will hesitate. Now is the time to pursue and make him know he’s wanted back in NY.
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