Pennington-less Jets… A New Hope?
…posted by Steven Spinello…
For seven long, at times, drastically drawn-out years, fans of the New York Football Jets were utterly forced to bear with a number 10 Chad Pennington as their starting quarterback, their leader, and ultimately the fate of the team’s success year in and year out. It would be faulty for me to say that there was no bright spots during this stretch for both the years 2002 and 2006 could attest to Pennington’s successes in green and white. In 2002, Pennington emerged from the shadows to take the helm left vacant by Vinny Testaverde’s season-ending injury and would do so rather fashionably, sporting an immaculate completion percentage to go along with an even better QB rating capped off with a considerably deep run into the postseason. Four years later, with a revamped coaching staff, Pennington would help lead his team to the playoffs again. Yet, no matter how many times Pennington performed admirably, there was always a sense of something missing. Sure, Pennington had and still does maintain one of the most efficient QB passer ratings in the National Football League, but, what is already apparent to most people involved with the game of football, it is no secret that Chad Pennington’s greatest strengths often succumb to one of his few but significant underlying weaknesses — arm strength; i.e., the ability to throw the ball down field and do so with relative ease. This was further exemplified with the final play of Sunday’s match in Miami (Pennington was picked off by CB Darelle Revis in the endzone to end the game). Actually, this was a rather conventional sight for New York Jets fans. Over the past few years, it was no rarity to see a potentially game-changing drive end with a crushing blow or an attempt coming up just short with Pennington behind center. Yet, this time it was different… Pennington was no longer behind center, no, in fact, Pennington no longer sported kelly green, this time he would be decked out in the turqouise green of the clear blue waters of sunny Miami, Florida.
And for this, Jets fans breathed a seven years’ sigh of relief.
Finally, Jets fans could desist from their attempts to put up with Chad as their quarterback, their wanting to like Chad, truly trust in his ability to lead their team to the greatest stage in professional sports– the Super Bowl. I myself can say that I was a victim of this false hope. You make the best of what you’re given, right? Well at least that what was the conventional thinking among the fan base.
Then along came a Brett Lorenzo Favre.
I will by no means sit here and say Brett Favre is the light at the end of the tunnel. Brett is no savior for this team. In fact, he is far from it, for there are many questions left unanwsered with this team (offensive line gelling? a conistent running game? the ability to compete with the best? etc..) But what Favre brings to the Jets is a certain charisma, a good vibe, per say. Those players step on the field, they converge at the huddle, and they see Brett Favre, a proven gamer, a legendary quarterback.. dare I say a surefire Hall of Famer. That is an insurmountable presence which no sports analyst, no player, no one can overlook. It’s Brett Favre behind center and everyone knows it, so you better compete. Pennington was a great leader both on and off the field for the Jets. There is no getting around that. But so is Favre and players know it from exhibit A –> Brett Favre: 3-time AP MVP, 7 division championships, 4 NFC Championship games, 2 NFC Championships, and of course one glorious Super Bowl Championship and a nice shiny ring to back it up. If Brett’s week 1 performance was any indicator of what’s to come for the Jets this year, it is sure looking bright. And dare I say brighter with a possibly season-ending injury for Pats QB Tom Brady. That feeling of restrained excitement that so often accompanied Jets fans year to year with the oft-injured Pennington starting has now finally lifted. A new season has officially commenced… a new hope for Jets fans. And they can thank not #10 but #4 for that.
