Can Pennington stay healthy?

By Krupka  |   Tuesday, May 09, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

New York Jets
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"Man what could have been, only if he could have stayed healthy."

When talking about quarterback Chad Pennington the past few years, that's been the mantra of New York Jets fans.

"Can Chad finally stay healthy?"

That's the question on the minds of Jets fans now.

In 2002, Pennington came in relief of the veteran Vinny Testaverde, starting the final 12 games of the season. He completed an impressive 68.9 percent of his passes for 3,120 yards and an extraordinary 22 touchdowns to a mere six interceptions. Even more impressive was his blistering 104.2 quarterback rating. He guided the Jets from a 2-5 start to a 9-7 record and a playoff berth, in which they were eliminated by the Oakland Raiders, the eventual Super Bowl runner-up.

Pennington, another in the long line of MAC quarterbacks to taste success in the NFL, has had his young career hampered because of numerous injuries, mainly to his shoulder and rotator cuff. It seems as though Pennington has been cursed since his breakout season.

In the following campaign, Pennington's injury proneness began rearing its ugly head. He entered the summer as the No. 1 quarterback and had Jets fans thinking Super Bowl. It seemed as though the budding star was primed for big things. However, in a preseason game against the New York Giants, an awkward landing on a tackle by Giants linebacker Brandon Short dislocated and fractured Pennington's wrist. He returned in time to start the final nine games of the season, but didn't play as well as his breakout 2002 year, yet, he still showed tremendous promise. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 2,139 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His quarterback rating fell to a mediocre 82.9, and the Jets record was 4-5 when he started.

Along came 2004, it started and you guessed it. Another injury suffered by Pennington. He had the New York Jets sprinting out of the gates like Secretariat at the Belmont Stakes, to a 5-0 start. He was injured mid-season and missed three weeks, later finding out he had torn his rotator cuff. Pennington subsequently "went under the knife" to repair it.

His comeback bid didn't last long. In the third game of this past season he re-aggravated his shoulder and rotator cuff. This past October, Pennington underwent another surgery to repair his rotator cuff, his second in as many years. Thus, questions began to arise about what the Jets would do at quarterback this off-season, and they've done plenty.

"I think stockpiling quarterbacks is good business," said GM Mike Tannenbaum.

Tannenbaum has practiced exactly what he's preached. This off-season the Jets have added quarterbacks Patrick Ramsey via trade, former Oregon Ducks quarterback Kellen Clemens via the draft, and Missouri's Brad Smith via the draft, although Smith is going to initially be tried out at wide receiver.

In any event, Chad Pennington is hoping to regain his health in 2006. If he does, the Jets could surprise some teams. However, nobody should hold their breath, because thus far, he has proven to be as fragile as a 90-year-old lady with osteoporosis.

Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka@realfootball365.com
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