Chad Pennington 'Would Listen' To Jets
by David_Wyatt on Feb 5, 2010 7:26 AM EST
34 comments
This is an idea that has been talked about here at GGN a few times over the past few months, and the New York Daily News caught up with Chad Pennington at an NFL sponsored youth clinic to ask him about the possibility of returning to the Jets to back-up and mentor Mark Sanchez:
"I'd be crazy not to be interested," the current Dolphin said at a youth-football clinic, one of many NFL-sponsored events during Super Bowl week. "Once you think you're too big where you can't entertain every opportunity, you'd better be careful because you'll be looking from the outside in."
The Jets and Chad parted on frosty terms before the 2008 season, and he admitted that it would be difficult to return to the team that draft him and then tossed him aside for one year of the Brett Favre express, and like expresses often do, they disappear as quickly as they appear.
"Would it be tough? Sure it would be tough, emotionally, but it's always a possibility," he said. "I never rule anything out. Absolutely."
There is plenty of information for you to read on where he currently is rehab wise, but one comment that just stuck out to me as typical Chad Pennington:
"There's always a need for leadership and you don't necessarily have to lead from a starter's role."
First class Chad, first class. A lot of teams will be in for him this off-season, and we better be one of them.
0 recs |
34 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Sure Why Not
Chad leaving was not his choice so its not like he left us high and dry. I have posted in the past that we need to get rid of Clemens and either move Ainge up or get a veteran back-up……Chad would be perfect. He could not only mentor Sanchez but Ainge as well. He has always been a class act and he knows he is at the end of his career, I’m sure he would like to end it with the team that drafted him.
I never wanted him to leave in the first place
As a long time discreditor of Brett Favre, the trade for him just really made me sick to my stomach, and seeing Chad go to the Dolphins was easily one of the most crushing blows to my Jets fanhood ever. The firing of Mangini after the season ameliorated some of those feelings (I mean I don’t really know how much it had to do with him and how much it had to do with Tannenbaum, but either way you know Mangini was just all up on Favre’s nuts), and I think getting him back would make up for it completely in the end.
Far more importantly, Sanchez NEEDS a guy like Chad; easily one of the smartest and toughest QBs ever who played at a high level despite his complete lack of arm strength. He’s a true leader and warrior. He took the fucking Dolphins to the division title a year after they went 1-15 for chrissakes! There’s no better QB to be a backup/mentor in the world. If it’s up to me, I do everything in my power to get him back. This is as big a no-brainer as there ever has been.
+1
Can’t say how much I agree with every single word you wrote
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
Pennington Is My Favorite Jet Of All Time But...
Lets be real, the move for Favre was the right one at the time. You guys can’t tell me that you weren’t excited to hear that the Jets got Favre. And when they were 8-3, I doubt many here were clamoring for Pennington. I never wanted to see Chad go but he would’ve never brought the Jets to the SB. And if they stuck with Chad, the Jets would’ve more than likely made the playoffs. Which means there would be no Rex Ryan era because Mangini wouldn’t have been fired. Don’t blame Mangini for being the reason Favre was brought in either. Woody Johnson wanted a “star” QB that could sell PSLs. With that said, I want Chad back in the worst way as the backup. Even with a bum shoulder, he still is worlds better than what we have now.
What do you suppose the Dolphins will want in exchange?
Kerry Rhodes or Lito Sheppard? A third rounder?
Chad is a free agent.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
The Jets need to make it RIGHT!
Chad needs to be home, and although he’ll never be the starter, he knows he can really help out young Mark and lead from the bench! Get this done Mr. T!
What an upgrade!
from Clemens to the Chad!
Induce Chad to come with an offer of a coaching/front office position after he retires, let’s keep him around as long as we can.
Call me crazy but...
Sanchez is the QB now. The last thing he needs is to look over his shoulder at the team’s former star QB. Don’t get me wrong, Chad is a great fit for all the reasons everybody has stated. But Sanchez needs to have full reign, especially next season. Even if the roles are clearly defined by the team as Sanchez as starter and Chad as back-up, the media will stir up a controversy as best they can anyway. And god forbid Mark had a bad stretch of games.
I think that as enticing as it is to bring Chad back, we have to stay away from this one.
Your crazy lol. I’d rather be prepared with a decent back up and excellent mentor than have a below average back-up with no mentor just in case the media decide to stir up a controversy between the young QB and a 34 year old back-up. Chad will handle any situation the media concoct between himself and the Sanchise, and what’s the old analogy, competition is good for a team.
I will take all the things Chad will bring rather than avoid him for a hypothetical ‘what if’ scenario.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
Lol. I’m batting a thousand with you lately. Its not so much about Chad as it is about Mark. Chad wiould handle it well (as always), but Sanchez needs to be allowed to have the freedom to have a stinker (which he will have) without the threat of losing his job.
Unfortunately, expectations will be high for next season for the team as a whole and for Sanchez. If Mark has a couple of 3 int games to start the season and we’re 1-3, there will be considerable pressure to hand the keys to Chad and you know it. Mark needs to “arrive” and take ownership of this team. It will be very difficuly to do with the very well-respected, very-highly regarded, very-mistake-free Chad Pennington waiting for his opportunity to play.
And what if Mark gets hurt and misses a few games? Will he have a job when he’s healed up if Chad goes on a winning streak?
haha tell me about it, hey it makes for a good conversation though, and that’s what it’s all about here :-)
I think the bottom line is that Chad is coming off surgery(again), and him out performing Sanchez just seems like such a minute possibility, with the age difference, everyone knows this is Mark’s team, and Pennington will likely be the first one reminding him of that. You were saying this year at one point you have to play the QB who gives you the best chance to win were you not? Wouldn’t you rather win and there be a little competition, rather than lose with someone like Ainge and it be straight forward decision when he comes back. I really don’t think the pressure will be on Sanchez if he has a couple of bad games, I think we all have our eyes open to the situation and understand Chad’s circumstance.
It would also give us first choice on him as a future QB coach, and I have a feeling that is the kind of role he will excel in.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
You’re right. I did say that we should go with the QB that gives us the best chance, but that was more about pulling Sanchez during his truly stinker games (Buffalo). But I wanted him to make every start.
And if Sanchez started the season losing 2 out of 3 games and throwing 3+ picks in those games, I would have a hard time arguing against benching him for Chad (who doesn’t throw picks). Chad might not win a lot of games, but he definitely won’t lose us any games. And if Chad doesn’t get played in that circumstance, Sanchez will be booed heartily. And if Chad is played and he wins, Sanchez may never see the field again (at least until Chad gets hurt again).
Its a lot of pressure on Sanchez. If you could give me the same QB, just his name is not Chad Pennington I’d be all for it. You just can’t have Chad backing up Mark. Just can’t do it. Its like having a former head coach come back to be a coordinator. Its just not done.
It can be done quite easily, and it should be done, If Chad were 28-29, I would agree with you that he shouldn’t be back, but he will be 34 on opening day, Jets fans are not stupid, we know that he has only a couple of years left, and we also have seen the progress Sanchez has made. Bringing in a guy who can help Sanchez in weak areas is straight forward as it gets, your also not showing a lot of faith in Sanchez, I have enough faith in him to suggest that the concept of sitting him and starting Chad won’t even rear it’s head.
Again I will say, I’m taking the mentorship of one of the cleverest QB’s to ever play the game with the faith that Sanchez won’t put himself in the situation where fans are calling for his head, over the hypothetical scenario of him having 3-4 bad games in a row where fans will be calling for his head. Just won’t happen.
Improving Sanchez is priority number one, and I think you even agreed that Chad would do it, bring him home.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
I agree with David. Chad knows that he would be coming to the Jets to be the backup. Who better to teach Sanchez how to play for the Jets than Pennington? Pennington always had Testaverde around to mentor him. Look how well Chad did with Henne.
I know I would feel a lot better if Sanchez ever went down with an injury, with Chad as the #2. I would love to see the ovation he would get, from Jet fans, running onto the field. His pride took a big hit when they brought in Favre. But Brett is a hall of famer so I never understood why he was so upset. Plus Tannenbaum let him choose his team.
I just don’t see the Dolphins letting him go back to the Jets. Plus he is an unrestricted FA which means we will have to do a lot of work just to sign him. So with that being said I think it’s a long shot he becomes a Jet.
by chrebetsthebet on Feb 5, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Crackback, if it was a year ago I’d be in total 100% agreement with you. I think after the way he played in the Playoffs, though, Mark firmly established it was his team. It seems like his teammates have total faith in him at this point. Yes, many would be calling for Chad after a few bad games by Sanchez, but people were calling for Mark’s benching this year even without a competent backup.
Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com
I don't necessarily agree.
Although he’s played well this post-season, you can’t really say he’s had that moment. He hasnt strapped the team on his back and led us to a win yet. He’s close, but not quite there.
Regardless of boos
Rex will do what’s best for the team, and Mark I think can be confident through that. With Pennington as #2, he won’t say anything to cause trouble.
and the home of the... JETS!!!
www.ganggreennation.com
Of course not. Neither QB would say anything remotely unprofessional. It would have been perfect if we had Chad this year. He’s a perect fit for our offense and Mark could have learned a lot by watching for a year. But now, Mark is still developing and still has some more work to do before he’s the clearly defined leader of this team. Chad’s presence doesn’t add much. Mark has a command of the offense and has a year of experience under his belt. Mark can make plays that Chad couldnt dream about. Mark has nothing to learn from Chad at this point. He knows he has to be careful with the ball; watching Chad be careful is not going to help Mark. Mark needs to watch film with Schotty and learn to read defenses. Chad can’t make the throws that Mark can make, so watching Chad make reads is not going to help Mark.
Chad’s presence begs the media to seek the controversial angle. Its an intriguing story and somebody is going to write it so it might as well be [insert media person here]. Chad is still a fan favorite and if Mark shows any sign of struggle or injury, the question will be begged as to how long before the team is Chad’s team again. Its just not a good situation for Mark. Why should he have to answer those type of questions? You can’t have guys on the team looking to Chad for leadership. You just can’t bring Chad back. Can’t do it.
I Was At The Kellen Clemens Start In Tampa And ....
No Jet fan should ever have to fear this guy being under center again. All teams need quality backups. Look at the Colts if Manning went down, they would be finished. Look at some of the other teams that had quality back ups. When McNabb went down Kolb was serviceable, when Delhomme went down, Matt Moore played well enough to take his job. Pennington has always been a team guy, Kellen Clemens will tell you how much of a help this guy is. Sanchez will only benefit having a mentor like this around. We all loved Vinny but once Chad got the job, we werent screaming for Vinny to get it back.
Two things working against your theory here
Kolb is probably going to start for Philly within the next two years.
Matt Moore is likely going to steal the starting job from Jake Delhomme in Carolina next year too.
So yeah, if a backup comes in and plays well or better than the starter, there is a good chance fans and even coaches will seriously consider him as their starting quarterback.
Knowing that Sanchez will have the occasional bad stretch of games as he still learns the game, having a solid backup like Pennington will only cause trouble. You guys don’t need QB controversies.
Difference there though is that both of those QB’s mentioned are 25 and just starting their careers, Pennington will be 34 at the start of the season, and coming off a major operation, his career is winding down.
Writer/Assistant editor
Eternal optimist
New York Jets
Gang Green Nation
www.ganggreennation.com
offensive coordinator
Bring him back and maybe see if he would be open to being groomed as a qb’s coach or OC Chad has one terrific football mind and Schottenheimer is not going to stay if he gats the right offer,I am a Chad LOVER too but it’s an idea
But
Wouldn’t the Jets have to lose a UFA, and for only slightly more than they’d sign Chad for? Like chrebet said, it’ll take a lot of work.
Go Jets
Go Devils
Correct, Frank.
I think an issue just as big would be to convince Chad to come home. Being open to going to a team doesn’t mean that team is your first, second, or even third choice. Look at how terrible QB play is in the NFL. I’m finding it tough to believe no team is going to even offer him a chance to compete for the starting job, which is more than the Jets can offer.
Even if that doesn’t happen, I still have a tough time seeing him back here. If he’s open to being a backup, why wouldn’t Miami give him a contract and bring him back as a mentor/insurance for Henne? I find it kind of tough to believe he’d choose to come back to the Jets given how much he’s loved being a Dolphin and how bitter his departure from New York was.
Editor-In-Chief
Gang Green Nation
SB Nation's Jets Blog
http://www.ganggreennation.com
A million yes's
Chad is a class act and a great talent who was burdened with bad luck and health not fit for pro football. He could have had things go so differently if it hadn’t been for multiple career changing injuries.
Not many people I’d rather have as a number 2, and he’s getting to the point where I don’t think he’d feel the need to usurp Sanchez. I think he’d be a better mentor than any other seasoned quarterback I can think of.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
