It is a fact that Testaverde was not good in 2001. Pennington was a 1st round pick in 2000. QBs drafted in the 1st round in the salary cap era should be playing before their 3rd season unless the team's incumbent QB is an amazing player. Pennington was not hurt in 2001. Learning a new system is a load of bullshit. We're just going to go back-and-forth on this just like we did earlier this calendar year and just like we did in past years. I'm sticking with my story, you'll stick with yours, and so we will drop it. Again, I was not even thinking about the Bledsoe injury when I made my other comments in this thread. I am in agreement that the Jets lost the 12/2 game in large part due to the conservative nature of Edwards and Hackett. That's why I call that game an Edwards/Hackett Special.
Six years of 20/20 hindsight is an amazing tool to work with. Nobody was shooting for 10-6 and second place at the time, and that wasn't the time to go with an untested QB. More important than the NE game was the Buffalo game we blew at the end of the year, you can place any kind of blame you want depending on how you choose to dissect a 16-game season. How about the games we won on the road at Indy and Oakland at the end of that year? You wanted to throw a guy in to learn on the job in that environment? We don't make the playoffs at all without those wins. When they did make the move, the next year, it was early in the season and more condusive to a new QB coming in and getting his feet wet.
Trust me. I wanted the guy benched in October that year. This is NOT 20/20 hindsight. I don't do stuff like that. I don't agree with that at all. It certainly was not the time to go with a bad QB. Testaverde was coming off a season in which he led the league in INTs. Yeah, I know, he threw a ton of passes blah blah blah, different offensive scheme, etc. This month six years ago, I thought that if Testaverde had a mediocre or poor September, that he should be benched. You would be mistaken. The 12/2 game swung the division to the Patriots. I didn't want Pennington thrown in in December. I wanted him playing before Halloween. The proof was in the pudding. Pennington could play. If he played the previous season they would have probably won the AFC East. EDIT: We have discussed this topic numerous times. Hopefully, this will be the final time I do it here. You guys have zero chance to change my opinion on this matter and I don't expect to change yours.
We don't have to drop it, we have our opinions. we don't have to get crazy, we can keep a civilized debate going on. Vinny wasn't good in '01 but he wasn't bad either- he was mediocre, we relied on Curtis and the D forcing TOs to win. They just didn't wnat Vinny killing us w/ TOs and he did a decent job of that. Learning a new system is a load of BS? Chad was already on his 2nd system in the NFL and never played a meaningful downin the NFL. NOW it's not as big of a deal but before ever playing it was a huge deal. Would Chad have been ready in 2001? Maybe but I don't think so. I guess it's irrelevant now. Anyway, back to the countdown: 11 Jim Turner Tony Eason Brian Hansen(holding) Parick Ramsey
Did we really need your comment? You don't contribute anything when you post so just stay out until you post something that other posters might actually want to read.
Well, the debate is very tired. We have had it at least three separate times. I write the same stuff everytime. You write the same stuff everytime. Nobody's going to budge. Nobody's going to change anyone's opinion. Ehh, let me just say one thing more, however. Pennington is smart enough to have learned a new system. That's ridiculous that he couldn't play in 2001 due to that reason. Simply ridiculous.
I just think a lot of people underestimate what changing a QB does to a team and why coaches don't like to do it. Same debate we have now about pulling Chad. It changes the entire make-up of the offense and it's hard to undo. If you're winning the way you are, however ugly, coaches are not inclined to change QBs unless they have to.
hmy: jeez mate, i wasn't having a go at you at all, but it seems that you must still have a sore spot from the BS bowl :smile: :beer:
Good. Pat Ryan and Chad are all we need today. Nice Chad pics, too. That move in the Buffalo game was an all-time classic.