penning10's priority is to remain a fin

[Steveo 90]

Against a widespread belief that Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington's two-year tenure in Miami is over, the two-time NFL comeback player of the year isn't ready to say the same. Pennington wants to stay in South Florida.

The veteran has decided to make it his priority to stay with the Dolphins, even if it means backing up quarterback Chad Henne, two sources said this week. The Dolphins are willing to entertain the possibility under some circumstances.

Pennington, who underwent his most recent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on Oct. 1, must prove strong enough to make some of the most difficult throws in football. Specifically, the team wants to see Pennington make a 15-yard out route before the end of February, one source said.

Such a route calls for the wide receiver to run 15 yards and make a 90-degree cut toward the far sideline. It is a dangerous pass that requires power and distance - two qualities that were not often Pennington's strong suits.
Pennington is scheduled to meet Feb. 22 with Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery. That's when Andrews will assess the recovery and provide a better timeline when it comes to a realistic return to action.

Pennington's rehabilitation is already progressing nicely. He has reached a point where he is capable of throwing a football, but he is not pushing it beyond anything more strenuous than an average game of catch.

Unlike many NFL players, who spend these months resting their bodies, Pennington has decided to continue his training as he prepares for yet another comeback.

Pennington's ability to come back from this latest injury is based primarily on the lack of damage to his rotator cuff, which had been surgically repaired on two previous occasions.

When Andrews performed the most recent surgery, he found only damage to the labrum and the shoulder capsule, which caused optimism for a full recovery. Whether or not Pennington is able to make the necessary throws by the end of February remains to be seen.

It also remains to be seen whether the Dolphins will leave room for patience if Pennington's progress gets him very close to meeting their expectations - but isn't quite there.

Either way, Pennington's representation isn't worried about the possibility of finding another suitor. While he would like to remain in Miami -- mainly because he is happy with the coaching staff and would prefer to keep his family here -- Pennington plans to return to football regardless of whether the Dolphins want him back.
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[jetssuck]

Bad idea......this will never be Henne's team with Penny in the locker room. And Penny's value as a QB just isn't enough to justify the problems or confusion his presence will likely bring.

Thigpen is a very adequate back up. Time to move on..


And as soon as Penny signs a new contract, there WILL be a QB controversy.....at least within the fans, media and even players. Personally I don't think Penny is worth all that. This is a crucial year for Henne and I want him coming into camp without Pennington over his shoulder.

[Jeff]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one JS. I think adding Penny makes sense. If we could get him at a reasonable rate on a 2 year contract (probably 2-3 mil and incentives) I think the positives outweigh the negatives. What we have in Pennington is a very cerebral player with limited physical skills. He got where he is with good accuracy and brilliant study habits. He would effectively be like another coach on the sideline for Henne, and would also push Henne to make himself as good as he can be as far as gameday preparation is concerned.

As long as the coaching staff actually anoint Henne the starter, there shouldn't be any rift in the locker room. The players played under him for most of the year, and so this isn't a wild change to the totally unproven kid.

Will there be problems if Henne struggles out of the gate? Probably, but then we all clamoured for Ray Lucas a few years back. There's always the assumption with fans that the other guy must be better. As long as the coaching staff stay on the Henne bandwagon, the players will too.

The next reason we should make this move imo, is that at the moment, Pat White is still our No. 2 QB. I want an actual QB standing on the sidelines, not a skinny kid that should have been drafted as a WR or...well, anything but a QB.

Finally, I think that Pennington will, one day, make an excellent QB coach. If we keep him in the fold after he was so unceremoniously dumped by New York, he's more than likely to want that gig in Miami, and I think that he will be a credit to any organisation he joins as a coach.

[NCphinfan]

Specifically, the team wants to see Pennington make a 15-yard out route before the end of February, one source said.

uh I'm not sure he could do that before the injury.

Jeff you have some very valid points. I do think a veteran QB like Henne would be an excellent addition for the team as well as Henne. This FO needs to carefully judge how the team and Henne will adapt to Penny being the back up QB.

With the stories I am reading about Porter and how the teams has reacted to Sparano I question if he has the leadership to run this team which makes keeping Pennington more problematic for me.

[jetssuck]

Originally Posted by Jeff

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one JS. I think adding Penny makes sense. If we could get him at a reasonable rate on a 2 year contract (probably 2-3 mil and incentives) I think the positives outweigh the negatives. What we have in Pennington is a very cerebral player with limited physical skills. He got where he is with good accuracy and brilliant study habits. He would effectively be like another coach on the sideline for Henne, and would also push Henne to make himself as good as he can be as far as gameday preparation is concerned.

As long as the coaching staff actually anoint Henne the starter, there shouldn't be any rift in the locker room. The players played under him for most of the year, and so this isn't a wild change to the totally unproven kid.

Will there be problems if Henne struggles out of the gate? Probably, but then we all clamoured for Ray Lucas a few years back. There's always the assumption with fans that the other guy must be better. As long as the coaching staff stay on the Henne bandwagon, the players will too.

The next reason we should make this move imo, is that at the moment, Pat White is still our No. 2 QB. I want an actual QB standing on the sidelines, not a skinny kid that should have been drafted as a WR or...well, anything but a QB.

Finally, I think that Pennington will, one day, make an excellent QB coach. If we keep him in the fold after he was so unceremoniously dumped by New York, he's more than likely to want that gig in Miami, and I think that he will be a credit to any organisation he joins as a coach.

I really don't see where White is the #2.......I think Thigpen takes that job and White is forced to train as a WR/all purpose player.

I'd rather have Thigpen as number 2 and pick up some late rd prospect for #3.

If we want Penny to stick around, hire him on as a coaching assistant. Personally, I think we've got all we can get from him as a player and I just wanna move forward.

[verbalkint1]

I am torn on this one. I want to see Henne declared the starter and stuck with no matter what next season as our QB and I can see the risk with Penny being there, especially as I too am not so confident in Sparano's ability to handle that situation.

However I also see Penny as a valuable asset which if kept on the understanding he is the No.2 can help Henne alot during his first full season. Whatever you say about Penny and his physical skills his mental skills, prep and study are superb and here as the backup can continue to teach Henne what is required as far as prep is concerned to be a top NFL QB.

My ideal situation would have been Penny deciding to retire and staying in Miami and being the QB coach, but he is a competitor and so that isn't likely yet.

[MrPhinn]

Originally Posted by jetssuck

Bad idea......this will never be Henne's team with Penny in the locker room. And Penny's value as a QB just isn't enough to justify the problems or confusion his presence will likely bring.

Thigpen is a very adequate back up. Time to move on..


And as soon as Penny signs a new contract, there WILL be a QB controversy.....at least within the fans, media and even players. Personally I don't think Penny is worth all that. This is a crucial year for Henne and I want him coming into camp without Pennington over his shoulder.

I thought it to be a good idea until I read your post, JS. I don't care about QB controversies, but maybe it is time to eliminate any doubt, especially to Henne, about who's the QB of this team. (We are trying to move forward, aren't we)?

I'm a Penny fan. He's a smart QB, but if you're gonna move forward, then move on. If I was Penny, I'd want to stay in south florida too. Hopefully it works out well for him. If he stays, it would be nice if he came out publicly and say he's the backup. It would eliminate alot of future problems.

I really don't know which way to lean.

[Steveo 90]

Impending free agent quarterback Chad Pennington told the New York Daily News that while it "would be tough" to return to the Jets in 2010, he'd be remiss not to entertain the idea if approached by G.M. Mike Tannenbaum.

"I'd be crazy not to be interested," Pennington said. "Once you think you're too big where you can't entertain every opportunity, you'd better be careful you'll be looking from the outside in. I never rule anything out. Absolutely."

Pennington, of course, was released by the Jets just after Tannenbaum acquired Brett Favre from the Packers prior to the 2008 season.

The Jets do plan to tender a contract to restricted free agent and incumbent backup Kellen Clemens, but it's likely that Pennington -- even at age 34 and coming off his third throwing-shoulder surgery -- would be an upgrade in the backup role behind Mark Sanchez.

The selfless Pennington would also theoretically be a good mentor for the Jets' rising second-year passer and presumably come on the cheap.
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[DantheMan]

return to the Jets in 2010

Sorry Steveo......Hell will freeze over before that happens.....

If this FO lets the best QB 'brain' in the NFL leave the organisation...I'll be well pissed.....

Henne....starter, Thigpen/Penny as back up with a new #3 from the draft...

What were the FO thinking that PW could be a starting QB in the NFL.......???

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by jetssuck

I really don't see where White is the #2.......I think Thigpen takes that job and White is forced to train as a WR/all purpose player.

I'd rather have Thigpen as number 2 and pick up some late rd prospect for #3.

If we want Penny to stick around, hire him on as a coaching assistant. Personally, I think we've got all we can get from him as a player and I just wanna move forward.

Oh, I agree that Pat White should be forced to retrain and try to become a Darren Sproles/Percy Harvin type player, where he might have value.

That said, we were also in agreement that White should never have been picked as high as he was, and certainly not as a QB. The coaching staff though, continues to have misguided faith in him.

My best scenario would be Henne undisputed starter (And the FO would have to make this clear now, and never hint he might be yanked), Pennington as No. 2, with Thigpen as No.3, where I believe he has his best value.

If Pennington was happy with a coaching assistant role, then I'd be all over it like a rash. That definitely is his best value to a team at this stage. That said, I think he believes he has too much to offer to a team and that he can still play, and will go somewhere where he has, at the least, a shot at the No. 2 spot.