Give Chad a Chance

At the end of the first Vinny Testaverde era in New York, things were looking up. A boyish, charismatic young man was waiting in the wings. He was one injury away from getting the opportunity to show many what he was able to do. In 2002, Chad Pennington got his first real shot at NFL stardom and boy did he make the most of it. Playing in 15 games that year and starting 12, Pennington threw for 3120 Yards 22 Tds and a meager 6 ints. Not to mention he complete 69% of his passes and ran for another 2 touchdowns. Most importantly the Jets made the playoffs. Who did they beat that year in the playoffs? A guy named Peyton. Whooped him. 41-0. A guy who is arguably the greatest and most efficient QB ever was beaten handily by a man who has a weak arm. Well doubters here is where I prove you wrong when you say Chad Pennington doesn't belong or that his time is up.

Consider the following:

Despite the lack of arm strength, Chad has completed 65% of his career passes making him one of the most accurate passers in NFL history. He has 30 more TDs than INTs and his career passer rating is 90.1. These are stats are of, if nothing else, a productive NFL starting quarterback.

Chad brings way more to the table than just some pretty gaudy stats. He brings leadership, a positive influence in the locker room and many other intangibles. So why am I writing this piece? Here's why: because I have a friend who knows who he is and won't be mentioned god help his soul, that said Chad Pennington is a bust. I don't usually lose sleep over too many things said about athletes or teams, but this was a new level for me. When I think of the word bust I think of guys like Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Andre Ware, Gino Toretta, and other guys with huge expectations that get a couple chances and then are out of a job. The aforementioned never did anything in the NFL and now are all afterthoughts and where is he now conversation pieces. As far as I know, as of September 26, 2007 Chad Pennington still has a job as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Okay, so he plays in the biggest sports market in the world, where fans can get impatient and always have high expectations. He's never won a super bowl, and has only gone as far as the second round of the playoffs. The icing on the cake, he was given a huge contract to be the franchise. Unfortunately, NFL quarterbacks are judged heavily by the ice on their fingers, to which Chad has none. But to call him a bust, shame on you.

Chad Pennington has played with 1 hall of fame player in his entire career, Curtis Martin. He's made the most of the talent around him (Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery, Chris Baker and Anthony Becht) and won with it. Now the Jets have never had a super bowl caliber team around Pennington but have still made the playoffs and won. And every time the Jets have made the playoffs they have been heavy under dogs, just ask everyone's boy Bill Simmons who had the Chargers crushing the Jets by 40 points only to have the Jets actually win the game and then the following week be 1 40+ yard field goal away from playing the hated Patriots in the AFC Championship game. Did I mention Chad Pennington is a calming influence and a consummate professional in the locker room? In a time where NFL players seemingly can't ever stay out of trouble, never is Chad negatively in the news. Now here is where his hero status comes in. Not once, but twice, Chad has had major surgery on his throwing shoulder. Remember limited arm strength to boot, he persevered and came back twice to reclaim his starting job. I guarantee that if the same thing happened to Ryan Leaf he would have quit and wined like a little girl about how the media hates him. Tim Couch clearly would have used HGH to get back in the league. And Chad's large contract, o yea, he deferred a ton of that money, in order to stay on the Roster and win his job back.

So call him what you may. Underachiever, bust, not a franchise quarterback, but just think of everything he has dealt with and ask yourself how your team's starting QB would have handled it. Also realize, that as I'm writing this Chad led the Jets to another hard fought victory and STILL is the starting QB. So when Jet fans cheer his injuries or boo his incompletions put into perspective everything that Chad Pennington has given to the New York Jets organization, literal blood, sweat, and tears, and appreciate the man for what he's worth.

Next week at BUFFALO.....J E T S Jets Jets Jets and go # 10.