February 17, 2006 -- The Jets are feverishly attempting to come to an agreement with Chad Pennington to restructure the quarterback's contract before March 3, which marks the start of the NFL's new year, a time when teams must get under the salary cap. But while the Jets continue to negotiate with Pennington's agent, there are rumblings within with organization about whether the Jets should keep the injury-plagued quarterback at all. Two members of the Jets' offense told The Post they believe the Jets should release Pennington. The comments reveal a definite crack in a foundation that was built with Pennington as the leader in the Jets' locker room as well as the face of the franchise. "I think we should release him; he's too injury-prone," one player said. "He's like an egg back there," another player said, referring to Pennington's fragility. "I mean, look at the ways he's gotten hurt. He hasn't even been hit that hard. The injuries have come from awkward hits and falls. I think we should just cut him." That's easier said than done, because cutting Pennington would subject the Jets to a $12 million salary-cap hit in 2006. For a team that's already some $26 million over the cap, that's a daunting prospect. Pennington, who still is not even throwing after the second rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder in two seasons, is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 3, a bonus the Jets have no intention of paying at the moment. He also is due to make $6 million in base salary this year. The Jets are trying to get Pennington to agree to a more cap-friendly deal, something they're talking to Curtis Martin and other players about doing as well. With Pennington and Martin, the Jets are trying to restructure the pacts so they have low base salaries but can recoup the rest in incentives. Pennington, who signed a seven-year, $64 million contract at the end of the 2003 season, has played in 16 games in the past two seasons. Including the $18 million signing bonus, he's collected $22 million in guaranteed money since signing the deal. The huge contract was a result of the marvelous season Pennington had in 2002, when he took over for injured Vinny Testaverde and led the Jets from the dregs of a poor start into the playoffs, where they won a wild-card game and lost in the divisional round. After that, Pennington was considered a star on the rise. Then came the injuries, one after another after another. He suffered fractured bones his left wrist and hand after falling awkwardly in a preseason game against the Giants. That cost him the first six-plus games of the following season. In 2004, Pennington suffered a right shoulder injury against the Bills in the eighth game, and missed the next three starts before returning to finish the season with what was later revealed as a tear in his rotator cuff. Offseason surgery followed, but he never was right from the beginning of last season, throwing with even less zip on the ball than he was able to muster before the injury. Facing Jacksonville in the third game last season, he had his right arm pulled back awkwardly on a sack and suffered another tear of the rotator cuff, ending his season. Pennington is 21-15 as a starter in the regular season, with a 2-2 postseason record. His best chance to regain a starting job is with the Jets; if he is released, Pennington likely will have to sign with another team for the veteran minimum and vie for a backup job. The bottom line is this: The Jets and Pennington need each other. The Jets have confirmed they will release CB Ty Law shortly, thus exonerating themselves of the $11 million payment that would trigger Law's contract into effect this season and beyond, and letting him become a free agent again. There was some speculation, based on Law's fondness for new head coach Eric Mangini, the Jets may have a chance to work out a deal with him. Law, however, is looking for one final contract bonanza and seeking some $10 million in guaranteed money, a number too rich for the Jets' blood. Law led the team with 10 interceptions last season, but those numbers were misleading in that Law didn't start to play well until mid-season. mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com
I don't believe anyone said those things. I think Cannizzaro is making up bullshit. Plus those quotes look like he posts you can get off of a Message Board, does not sound like NFL players to me.
He's a professional writer; I doubt he made those up. Although they could be from anyone on the offense. It could be a back OLinemen and someone else no one cares about.
Do you think he would write what he wrote & it turns out to be BS & Murdock would fire him immediately. Grow up & accept that what he printed is accurate
Grow up? It isn't like it is impossible he did this. Do I believe he made this up? No, but it's still possible those are false rumors. Doesn't really matter anyway because the front office makes these decisions.
Since they dont to be named I wouldnt be surprised if one of them is Kendall but he would usually put his name to any quote.
It cannot be "rumors" & not made up which makes it a fact! Sorry Canny would not put his job on line for a rumor. Just think about that
Even though they are not on the offense, I bet one of the sources is Ty Law. What does he care, he is outta here. Plus we know he had an attitude. I would be willing to bet the other source is Abraham. I mean, who is whining the loudest right now about being unhappy. Abraham should know what unhappy is - like what we have to go through sometimes - getting let go of a job and having to file unemployment so we can get our lousy $451 a week from the state.
You'd have to admit the article does smack of some truth in the way Pennington got injured. "I mean, look at the ways he's gotten hurt. He hasn't even been hit that hard." I've probably said that to myself a dozen times. They've always talked about Chad's footing, that he needs to work on it. I think the coaches saw more in his footing than just an inability to set up properly. He also exhibits a certain... well, "klutsiness" in the pocket, for lack of a better word. It's a borderline lack of athleticism in general. "Natural" athletes do daring things and perform great athletic feats while remaining uninjured. It comes from repetitive contact and practice and playing but it also has to do with awareness and a natural ability to know when to abort a motion and duck to get out of the way of the freight train. Look at Palamalu, for example. The guy is flying around like a man hell-bent on injury, yet he knows where he is on that trapeze at all times. QB Vince Young is the same kind of athlete. But even forgetting about both times when Pennington was injured the worst, take a look at the opening drive of the Kansas City game. I thought he'd wind up being taken out on a stretcher. That was probably the worst display of athletic ability I've seen in a QB in a long time. Woody Allen would have done better... very disconcerting. Trying to pick up balls he dropped instead of pouncing on them and protecting himself (and the ball), standing up in the collapsing pocket after holding the ball too long and trying to make the pass anyway, unaware of linesmen all around him licking their chops to smack the ball out. I don't know if there's any truth to the article or not, but I agree with the premise. Chad just doesn't have the pocket awareness we need in there. He may be fragile too, which makes it even worse because he's a Dennis Byrd waiting to happen. Give me a durable, athletic QB any day of the week.
The article says that it was 2 members of the offense so it couldnt be Law or Abe. Why not. When he has something to say he usually doesnt hide behind an anonymous quote but since it is about the franchise QB I could understand it.
Canizzaro would NOT just make these things up and risk his job, if his boss asks he has to be able to alibi credible sources, this is not a HS paper. If he did make the quotes up, we will not be reading his articles much longer. My whole beef here, is that Mangini should be lowering the boot, i hope he does. I am fine with this whole Mangini, Herm switch, so DO NOT take this the wrong way. But when Herm was here these things never happened, nobody would open their mouth like that about a teamate, its bullshit, Mangini needs to take charge, fine out who said it, and enforce repurcussions.
I loved what you said, especially from the Palamalu part on. You really hit the nail on the head. You don't have to, but it may be a good idea to stay away from the Dennis Byrd reference out of respect for what happened. I do agree, Chad does seem very brittle.
Gees, usually, I am more observant than that. Thanks. How about 2 offensive players told Ty and Abe and then they blurted it to Canny? Kidding. I think it would be safe to say that we can rule out Martin. He would never get caught up in something like this. Buttleman, what happened to the old avatar? I think it was a Jet cutie in a chair if memory serves me.
Nice post, I agree. Chad does not seem to be the most graceful of athletes, but if you could put his mind and guts into Jeff Georges body we would have the QB of the ages. On another note, I hate when players give these anonymous quotes. If you have something to say, be a man and just say it with your name attached. Shit like that causes nothing but problems...
She is still around and will be back eventually. What did Herms way get us? Also, there were plenty of unnamed quotes throughout the years its just that it never revolved around Chad. I think I remember some about Abe missing the playoffs and about Law coming to the team. I see it as the team seeing what the FO sees which is that Chad most likely wont be on the team and if he does it will be at a huge paycut. With the $$$$ that he is due to make, his cap numbers and his cap number, can you blame any of the young guys who are the future of the team believing that for them to get to the next level, that it will be without Chad.
Could you imagine if Keyshawn was still here. What do you think the title of his new book would be? "You Can't Give Me the Damn Ball".
Totally on the money. Mangini needs to have a team meeting, Parcells/Belichick-style, and lay the law down. You open your mouth and trash-talk a fellow teammate and I find out, you're in deep sh!t. On Pennington's cerebral attributes, yes, by all means. He's a very intelligent guy. When we drafted him I'm sure that was a big consideration and we thought the athleticism would develop and follow. I really wish it had, but his biggest liability has been that his arm-strength never blossomed along with his footing and pocket presence. We probably could have gotten by and compensated for those things, but the injuries have gotten this over the top now. I really don't hold out much hope that he'll ever win a championship for us. And that should be the bottom line in determining where we go from here. We need another franchise QB and the sooner the better because it'll take a few years to groom him.
I back up penny..but the more and more i think about it..he is done. Only a back up QB at best..he is fragile and 2 rotater cuff injuries hmmm he is definitly done. He should restructure for his own good. I think he does but you know how agents are they are greedy.
