http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/62498.htm PENNINGTON 'ANXIOUS' TO FIGHT FOR HIS JOB By STEVE SERBY PHOTO CHAD PENNINGTON Email Archives Print Reprint Feeds Newsletters February 27, 2006 -- As rumors began flying that the Jets are candidates to trade up with the Texans and land the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, which they would use on quarterbacks Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler, Chad Pennington broke his silence and sounded ready to fight for his job, assuming he still has one. "My arm and shoulder are fine," Pennington was quoted as saying in yesterday's Sarasota Herald Tribune. "I'm anxious to get started." Pennington, who has been rehabbing his second rotator cuff injury at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, was fishing. He will be fishing for a new team if ongoing negotiations in Indianapolis between his agent, Tom Condon, and new Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, do not come to an amicable conclusion. Condon has rejected the Jets' proposed 2006 pay cut from $9 million to $1 million. In the first public acknowledgment that he was either insulted or stunned or both by the Jets' opening salvo, Pennington said: "They want to pay me less than what most backup quarterbacks are making." Pennington apparently was joking when he referred to a Post story in which two anonymous players suggested the Jets would be better off cutting him. "I'm glad I'm down here and not up there," Pennington said. "I've heard my teammates don't want me back." But Curtis Martin, who carries the most weight in the locker room, definitely wants Pennington back, as does Laveranues Coles. No matter what happens, the Jets' quarterback position will be up for grabs come training camp. Texans GM Charley Casserly is openly shopping the top pick, which the Jets would use on Pennington's successor. The Jets are logical partners, because disgruntled defensive end John Abraham would have great appeal to the Texans, who are desperate for a pass rush. In addition, the Texans have a crying need to protect their recently re-signed QB, David Carr, and can grab blue-chip left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson at No. 4 should they swap picks with the Jets. "I think there's value in our pick," Casserly said. "Whether it's Reggie Bush, Vince Young or Matt Leinart, those three players are going to produce trade offers." steve.serby@nypost.com Back to: Jets
Didn't he say his arm was just fine last year. ans what the heck are we going to do with the number one pick anyway? we dont need it! if we trade abe andd the 4th, we should alteast get the 1 and there 2nd rounder. that i can live with because abe by himeself is worth someone elses first.
Man we cant afford a first pick of the first round we should stay at 4, and if those reports come to fuition, of mangini going after OT tom ashworth and guard stephen neal, we probably go for a replacement for abe, mario williams. If not maybe a running back like deangelo williams, lendal white, or lawrence maroney. Or jay cutler.
I think we are set at running back. we have two good backs who will be better with a decent line. i hopw they realize this and go after OL or QB or even DE because i don't trust Penny after last year, hell i don't trust him after the last two years.
My question is how does he know his shoulder is fine when he cannot chuck the rock til at least July 06?
The JETS need a big athletic OL. Trade down to get more picks. Get two bookend tackles that will protect a QB for the next decade. We are rebuilding. I think we will be getting another high pick next year. That's when we address the QB problem. That gives us a year to develop a better OL.
I'd be looking to compete for "my" job too, especially if I knew that it was the only one I had a legitimate shot at. I really, really hope that the Jets stay at 4 and don't trade up. This team is far from being one player away from winning the big show. Trade down, collect another late 1st, early 2nd for Abe, plus grab another 2nd for trading down, and we are in a much better position, IMO.
Hey NJjet I agree with you 100%. We should take all Offensive lineman this year and let them gel for a year. FACE IS we are going to get another high pick next year so why trade up for something we can really dont need this year. Can this all new team do better then 4-12.
I agree with this logic UNLESS the Jets' braintrust truly believes that Lienert or Cutler will be a true franchise QB. If that is the case, I think you do whatever is needed to get that key piece in place. That may mean staying at 4 and drafting Cutler (depending on what the intelligence says about those picking in front of us) or it could even mean trading up. I've favored all along drafting OL help, but maybe a true franchise QB must be snatched up (like the Giants with Eli) and then deal with the OL in rounds 2 & 3.
That is a prett good comparison... our current situation with the Giants 2 years ago. New coach, new staff, an porous offensive line (remember all the talk about trading up to get Gallery) and a 3 franchise QB's available (Manning, Rivers, Roethlisberger, who, like Cutler, saw his value shoot up after senior week and the combine). The Giants had MANY holes to fill, especially on offense, (they used their second to draft Snee, who has turned into a solid starter), and got McKenzie, as well all know in FA. If Chad restructures, which I think he will, then he is the incumbent keeping the chair warm while a franchise QB learns... BIG problem I have with this, is that I still think the Giants gave up WAY too much to move into that spot. Perhaps there will be a situation where the Texans Take Leinart, we take D'Brick, and THEN trade. Very similar situations though, I think.
All of this will be answered by weeks end. I bet his dumb ass agent is holding out until Friday midnight before they accept any offer. One thing we all know is Penny wants to stay and compete but his agent is an ass, not want to have egg on his face before siging new clients. Who wants an agent who's client just took a HUGE paycut -- would highlight he is not much of a negoiator, a compromise however will allow Condon to save some face.
Just thought of something I would love. Jets trade Abe plus the #4 for the #1 overall. Then we trade down. That would assure us good value for Abe. To move from #4 to #1 is worth 1200 points on the value chart which is equal to the #12 pick. To get a #12 pick value for Abe would be great. Just an idea. Then we get a great RB and QB.
He'd better pray that Jay Cutler isn't Jets' pick. We've seen what happens when he competes in camp, trying to go throw-for-throw with a strong-armed quarterback. That lettuce leaf of a rotator cuff might last until the first Tuesday.
Chad takes forever to learn new offenses and that is exactly what he would need to do once again. Add in the fact his arm is as weak as a 6th grader and it spells disaster. Just cut him and start fresh.
I think Chad will be Back this year for a few reasons. 1) I dont think the Jets will use the #4 pick on a QB or Trade up to get a QB 2) We do not have the cap room to do #1 3) We have $64 million reasons why 4) He is a good Character guy 5) He wants to be a Jet and basically has no choice 6) He will take a pay cut 7) He will have time to digest the new offense...he wont be back till game 4-6 8) Jets have a history of making bad QB moves and on paper this is a bad move I really hope Chad can come back and be a glimmer of what he was in 02. I realistically give him a 40% chance of being the player he was, but HE WILL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT...THATS THE BIGGEST REASON WHY HE WILL STILL BE A JET....HE HAS THE GRIT THAT THIS ORGINIZATION NEEDS TO WIPE THE LAST 30 YEARS AWAY
