Pennington especially excited about this season opener By DENNIS WASZAK Jr., AP Sports Writer September 6, 2006 HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- Chad Pennington will be home when the New York Jets open their season. And he couldn't be more excited about it. "After two injuries, I don't take anything for granted," the resilient quarterback said Wednesday. When he takes the field Sunday against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Pennington will be playing just a few hours away from his hometown of Knoxville. The moment will be all the more sweeter considering many doubted he'd come back from last season's torn rotator cuff -- his second in as many years -- let alone start in Week 1. "I don't take for granted just walking out there one more time and having the experience of another opening day because you never know when that's going to end," he said. Pennington will undoubtedly be busy in the days leading to the game, fielding ticket requests from friends and family who'll take the three-hour ride to see him play the Titans for the first time in Tennessee. "Nashville's just a hop, skip and a jump away from Knoxville," he said. "There are a lot of Titans fans in Knoxville and everyone knows that Tennessee's a big football state. It'll be exciting for my family and friends, and also for me." Particularly because this moment appeared unlikely a few months ago. Pennington, once labeled as one of the next wave of NFL star quarterbacks, suddenly was considered a has-been -- a sad case of a once-promising career doomed by injuries. He originally hurt the shoulder in 2004, when he missed three games, but returned for the end of the regular season and playoffs before having surgery. Pennington came back last season, but was injured in the third game. He again had surgery and missed the rest of the season. After impressing new coach Eric Mangini and beating out Patrick Ramsey, Brooks Bollinger and Kellen Clemens to regain his starting job in training camp, comeback No. 2 becomes official Sunday. "I felt really comfortable and confident in the reps that I received this training camp," he said. "Every time Coach wanted me to get in there, I was able to get in there and didn't have to miss reps because of soreness or anything like that. Throughout training camp, I really gained a lot of confidence physically, and now just putting the mental and physical together is what I'm concentrating on." Pennington insists his focus is on the Titans now, and thoughts about his right shoulder are gone. The same can't be said of Tennessee's defense. "Chad is a very smart guy, knows where to go with the ball and he makes good throws, but he's coming off that shoulder surgery," linebacker Keith Bulluck said. "So I hope we can get after him a little bit, so he can't use those attributes on Sunday. We're trying to go out there and knock him around." Pennington remained a team leader last season -- waving towels on the sideline and pumping up his teammates -- even after his own career was thrown into uncertainty. "Just for a guy like that to be our starting quarterback again, we're just very proud of him," wide receiver Laveranues Coles said. "You can look at him even more with admiration and say, `Now there's a guy who really wants to win and wants to play this game."' When Pennington became the starter in 2002, he and Coles became fast friends. Pennington helped lead New York into the second round of the playoffs and drew comparisons to Joe Montana in the process. His favorite target was Coles, who set a then-career high with 89 catches and had 1,264 yards receiving. Coles went to Washington after that season before returning to New York last year. He and Pennington hoped to reconnect on the field, but Pennington's injury short-circuited those plans. The two are determined to take care of unfinished business, starting with Week 1. "He's probably one of the few guys off this team that ever just came over to my house this offseason," Coles said. "He'd call me and say, 'Man, I'm coming over.' And we'd sit and talk -- about his son and just run around with him. He's a good friend of mine. "Outside of football, if there's anybody in this world I'd give the shirt off my back to, it's him. That's the type of person he is."
Thankfully only a few more days of these fluff articles. I think by this time everyone is happy for Chad regaining his starting spot. But it's a business and come week 1 his positive attitude is going to have to translate into performance on the field. I'm not saying he won't, I actually feel he'll have a very nice year. But all the feel good articles in the world isn't going to hit Coles on a 18 yard out pattern.
in vegas, they have the betting line set based on downs.:shit: his new theme song: rubber ducky.:lol: i literally get sick whenever i see highlights of joe willie then have to watch another floating quacker in a game from noodle arm.:breakdance: :sad:
