How long will Pennington last in Miami?

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Tuesday, February 24, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

Miami Dolphins
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After a tremendous season which resulted in comeback player of the year honors, Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington will have a tough act to follow in 2009. Miami raced to an 11-5 record and the AFC East division crown thanks in large part to Pennington’s performance under center.

Pennington is no stranger to early success and Dolphin fans may be leery about his long-term appeal in South Florida. After seeing little action during his first two seasons with the New York Jets, Pennington finally received expanded playing time in 2002. He played in 15 games and threw for 3,120 yards and 22 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions. Furthermore, he maintained a QB rating of 104.2 and completed nearly 69 percent of his passes.

However, Pennington was lackluster from that point on during his time with the Jets. In fact, he failed to throw for more than 17 touchdowns in a season and amassed a QB rating of over 90.0 just once. Additionally, he suffered numerous injuries and managed to play only one full 16-game season.

Thankfully for the Dolphins, backups Chad Henne and John Beck are waiting in the wings for an opportunity. Given Pennington’s history of arm trouble, they may be called on sooner than expected. Beck was selected by the previous regime in the second round of the 2007 draft and will face an uphill battle for playing time. Meanwhile, Henne -- also a second-rounder -- was handpicked by Bill Parcells and coach Tony Sparano largely because of his arm strength and intangibles.

As he did in his first full season in New York, Pennington wowed the Dolphin faithful with his extreme accuracy and winning mentality. With Miami coming off a 1-15 season, a proven winner like Pennington was just what the team needed. Pennington threw for a career-high 3,653 yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2008 campaign. He also compiled a 97.4 QB rating, the second-best output of his career.

In addition to his gradual decline in New York, Pennington has other factors working against him. He’ll be turning 33 and isn’t blessed with a particularly talented receiving corps. If the aura of Parcells wears off during his second season in Miami, the Dolphins could be in store for a disappointing follow-up act with Pennington at the helm.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To...
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