Dear Chad Pennington, Im sorry. For seven years, you played for the hated rival New York Jets, so I never wouldve given you a chance to begin with. We got off on the wrong foot from the get-go. But you also knew how to beat us most of the time. Our record against the Jets was embarrassing for years. Then I, along with other Dolphin fans, started to mock you when you started to get injured seemingly every year. You were looking like a bionic qb, always under the knife and being repaired. You had some good years, but you also had your share of equally bad or mediocre ones. It also didnt help you developed a reputation for having a noodle arm, which I was convinced of. When in your last season in New York, when Jet fans began to turn on you and then your organization kicked you out in favor of Brett Farve, it seemed to be rock bottom for you. Then you signed with Miami. I didnt like it much at first, for good reasons. For one, the Dolphins were continuing with yet another veteran QB that was thrown away by their previous team. Second, you never really seemed to reach your upside, you managed games for the Jets but didnt seem to win them. Third, that damn noodle arm was giving me flashbacks of Jay Fiedler. But I was wrong. Dead wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. You have proven myself, my fellow Dolphin fans, Jet fans, and many, many others wrong. You have been an integrable piece to the Dolphins. You have orchestrated a comeback few would have predicted. Not only have you rescued your career from oblivion, you have taken a down and out franchise to the playoffs almost single-handedly. Your steady and smart play has gotten us to our best position in years. You have earned the respect of your players and the confidence of your coaches and the organization. You have helped make the Dolphins from a joke to a serious team. Additionally, you've managed stay healthy throughout the whole year and shaken off the notion of having a noddle arm. You have, in fact, a pretty strong arm that didnt need to be used all the time. You made your former organization look like a bunch of idiots, and sending them home for the playoffs by winning the most important game of year against them, was truly the icing on the cake. So, all in all, congratulations Chad Pennington, you deserve it. I, Finsane, wholeheartedly apologize
Well put. I never "hated" Pennington because it's been my job to try and stay objective about football in general. That said, it was impossible to really give him a fair shake because of his propensity to kill the Dolphins. I always knew that he was a good game manager and a master of the short/intermediate passing game, but I didn't truly appreciate how good his game was until getting a chance to see him work his magic week in and week out this season. For the first time in a long long long time, a Dolphins fan doesn't have a sense of fear when their quarterback drops back to pass.
dont forget, chad henne is learning from pennington, when its his time to play, he would have had a good teacher
I was thrilled to hear he was coming to Miami. Watching him beat Miami so many times you had to know he was at least an upgrade over what we had.
Same here, and even though I have always hate(d) the Jets, I just could never come to hate Chad. The guy is just a great football player, leader, and person. I for one am glad he is finally on our side.
Damn Fin, that's exactly how I felt about Pennington. When he played for the Jets not only did I hate the guy but I would at every opportunity downplay what he did with the Jets and never ever gave him the recognition he deserved and it was only because of my deep hatred for the Jets. When he signed with us I had mixed feelings but only for a few days at most. I have been a diehard sports fan for all my teams since 1975 and never did a player I hated so much grow on me so fast, in fact so much that I feel ashamed that I could never get past my hate for the Jets and see what a special person Pennington is. If I ever get the chance to meet him, I will feel obligated to apologize for my past feelings and not only thank him for what he has done for this franchise but for him changing my ways how I view players on rival teams.
Heck..I was just happy that a Vet Qb, who had made it through Training Camp healthy, did not cost us a #2 pick for a change.. I was in the minority that thought bringing Chad Pennington down to Miami was a good idea, but 11-5...no way.. I underestimated Mr. Pennington, and to be honest, the rest of Dolphins roster, anyone with half a brain would have been happy with 6 wins...right? No Longer Noodle Arm proved everyone wrong...again...
That's what I keep thinking, too, FinSane; IMO there is not a more perfect role model for "Chad Jr." -- class act, team motivator and a good, solid QB.
Ok, a little off topic here, but another "Penny Plus" is that we have a QB that's not named either A.J. Feely, Jay Feeley, Jay Fiedler -- wow...
dear finsane, I'm sorry for all those things I called you in that pm yesterday. I was sorta wrong. Lucky
I never hate opposing teams players unless they're complete *******s. And Pennington isn't. Up until this year I just kinda wished that we had someone like player "x,y,z" and now we do.. and our own true phins for the future.
Although I dont hate him, I still dont like his type of QBing. I'll give him props for staying away from the turnovers but if Henne starts showing something more in camp next year, I'll be rooting for Henne to unseat him. His arm just makes his game limited IMO and though you can overcome that somewhat with smart intelligent play, it will only get you so far. I still dont see Penny being able to win a SB witht hat arm of his. Still, a nice story for the year in regards to Penny. He played about as well as he is capable of
He signed the night I got my Phins tattoo.... must have been a good omen. Seriously, I liked the pick up because he cost us nothing and was definately an upgrade from all the camp reports we were seeing. Did not know it was "billion dollar bank heist" steal of the century though. Thanks Chad!!!!
Unbelievable. I've heard of people going to great lengths to preserve their point of view on a particular player, but this takes the cake. Clearly, there's virtually nothing that Pennington can do (short of winning the Super Bowl and/or getting into the Hall of Fame) to change your mind.
I doubt that would do it either. Who wouldn't prefer an unproven QB who hasn't started a single game in the NFL? There are also probably some people who would rather have a 22TD/22INT gunslinger over an efficient QB who has thrown SEVEN INTs the entire year.
Eh...still lusting after Matt Ryan aren't ya big fella? Of course I disagree, his style is very much in the pattern of Bob Griese's, his numbers are in fact better then Grieses during the post Csonka era, having Chad Pennington now means our offense is allowed to bloom with some sage leadership at the helm, so when or if Henne steps in, the offense won't have to start from -0-, guys like Ginn and Bess will already have been coached up into bonafide NFL starters.
Well I kinda like his type of Quarterback play. Yeah he won't throw it 60 yards in the air but he will throw a good catchable pass and knows when not to throw it. He is not mobile but he avoided the rush nicely on more then a few plays yesterday avoiding sacks and at times getting positive yardage. I don't watch win one eye open every time he drops back and, when healthy has proven to be able to take teams to the playoffs. (I think the stat was in years he played 10 or more games his teams have went to the playoffs, but don't quote me I've had a couple beers).
