Jason Cole: Dolphins' Pennington has Tunnel Vision
28 replies
“It’s all about the now,” Pennington said, his hands waving and his voice rising to emphasize the point. “What happens next year has nothing to do with now and I would hate for any of us to waste the season to wait until next year. Why not focus on this year and try to have the best year we can have and when next year comes, we’ll see what happens. I think we’re doing ourselves a disservice and we’re being disrespectful to the game when we look into the future. This game is about the now, preparing for the now, playing for the now.
“This game can be gone like that and I was close to that with two injuries and being fired . That’s three times where it could have been over. That’s where I think the mistake is made because this isn’t really a career like normal careers. I’m one of the lucky guys, I’m in double-digits . Three years is the average. So you better enjoy it and go full out while it’s here so that when it’s over, you have no regrets and you can say, ‘I laid it all out on the line.’ ”
Regarding his difficulties in playoff games/arm strength:
“No. 1, I think that’s something convenient to say after somebody has had two shoulder surgeries,” he said. “No. 2, if I wasn’t adequate enough to lead the team in that situation, Sparano wouldn’t have me out there. Why would he put me out there if I was a detriment to our team and I can’t help us win? No. 3, if you look at all four interceptions , it had nothing to do with arm strength. I don’t know what else to say.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AoTFtVdVGATwESoUEmKNaL5DubYF?slug=jc-dolphinscamp082109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Sorry if this was already posted. Great article and gives good insight to the kind of leader Pennington is. He treats his teammates well.
Pennington is our Offensive Captain, he is right when he says it is all about the now, not next year.
Arm Strength aside, if he's top 5 in passer rating again I don't think there's anyway you can't re-sign him, or at least try to. You don't give away proven commodities in the NFL. We all like Henne and his upside, but it's really hard to look the other way when it comes to a QB who's definitely got something left in the tank.

Ricky Williams - "I will always be a Dolphin."
"Dolfan984 wrote:
Arm Strength aside, if he's top 5 in passer rating again I don't think there's anyway you can't re-sign him, or at least try to. You don't give away proven commodities in the NFL. We all like Henne and his upside, but it's really hard to look the other way when it comes to a QB who's definitely got something left in the tank.
I cant imagine that happening tho. I expect him to be affective but not enough to force our hand to resign him.
He has a career average quarterback rating of 90.6. What do you want from the guy? Seriously. Name someone since Marino we have had on the roster who can match that. In fact, not even Marino can match that. Keep that statistic in mind before you run the guy out of town on a rail for having a Jay Fiedler arm.
I think re-signing him has to do with money and his acceptance to eventually take a backseat to the next QB in line, whomever that ends up being.
Last year when John (FFIC) informed me we had signed Penny, I groaned and moaned. Boy was I missing it. He has been an absolute godsend for the phins
Pennington = Leader on the field (and in the clubhouse)
Pennington = Dolphins' best QB since Marino
Pennington = Class act
Resign Pennington!
http://larrycsonka.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/071511-NFL-Larry-Csonka-PI_2011071516291173_660_320.jpg
Pennington has always been a smart quarterback and he came along when the Dolphins really needed him. He may not be a gunslinger or a strong armed quarterback but he has all the other things you like to see in a leader and a quarterback.
I really don't like the narrow vision tag I prefer to call it being focused.
He is absolutely right, and as a fan I intend to take his cue and not even worry about resigning him until after we see what happens THIS year. THEN I'll voice an opinion whether I think we should resign him, or not.
2011 & 2006 World Champions, 2013 National League Champions; St. Louis Cardinals!

:lol: it brings me back to when he use to play for the Jets and every Dolphin fan that hated the Jets would call him Noodle arm now that he is a Fin they defend him to the grave :D
I'm glad we have Pennington he is the best QB since Fielder. Not saying much.
I want Henne to be our starting QB next year. Hell, I want him to be our starting QB this year. I think we have to let Penny go. Henne seems to me to be showing the stuff to be a good QB in the NFL and you cant keep him on the bench indefinitely. At some point we have to move on


2019 DRAFT WISH LIST
1) DT Dexter Lawrence - Clemson
2) DE Jaylon Ferguson - Lousiana Tech
3) OG Chris Lindstrom - Boston College
4) CB Amani Oruwariye - Penn State
5) DE Shareef Miller - Penn State
7) C Sean Krepcz - Nevada
7) RB Wes Hills - Slippery Rock
Reporter: "Why did you fire Coach Gase?"
Ross: "Because he wants to win now"
"adamprez2003 wrote:
I want Henne to be our starting QB next year. Hell, I want him to be our starting QB this year. I think we have to let Penny go. Henne seems to me to be showing the stuff to be a good QB in the NFL and you cant keep him on the bench indefinitely. At some point we have to move on
Because winning is sooo 2008...
:tongue2:
It's Penny's team, Henne hasn't done anything to dispell that notion Adamp.
"padre31 wrote:
Because winning is sooo 2008...
:tongue2:
It's Penny's team, Henne hasn't done anything to dispell that notion Adamp.
:tongue2: just for once I would like to see Ginn hit in stride as he streaks down the sideline for a TD


2019 DRAFT WISH LIST
1) DT Dexter Lawrence - Clemson
2) DE Jaylon Ferguson - Lousiana Tech
3) OG Chris Lindstrom - Boston College
4) CB Amani Oruwariye - Penn State
5) DE Shareef Miller - Penn State
7) C Sean Krepcz - Nevada
7) RB Wes Hills - Slippery Rock
Reporter: "Why did you fire Coach Gase?"
Ross: "Because he wants to win now"
"adamprez2003 wrote:
:tongue2: just for once I would like to see Ginn hit in stride as he streaks down the sideline for a TD
Just once I'd like a Miami Qb to lead us to the AFC Championship game..:yes:
"padre31 wrote:
Just once I'd like a Miami Qb to lead us to the AFC Championship game..:yes:
you aim too low :up:


2019 DRAFT WISH LIST
1) DT Dexter Lawrence - Clemson
2) DE Jaylon Ferguson - Lousiana Tech
3) OG Chris Lindstrom - Boston College
4) CB Amani Oruwariye - Penn State
5) DE Shareef Miller - Penn State
7) C Sean Krepcz - Nevada
7) RB Wes Hills - Slippery Rock
Reporter: "Why did you fire Coach Gase?"
Ross: "Because he wants to win now"
"adamprez2003 wrote:
you aim too low :up:
Well...sort of...if we think about it, our key young players will be moving into their third and fourth yrs in 2010, losing Penny in 2010 would be a setback, but look at all the guys who will be moving into their primes
Long
Thomas
Ginn
Turner
Hartline
Davis
Smith
Bess
Lankford
Merling
White
Henne
To me, that will be our "core" for many seasons to come.
We'll see about Wake and Soliai, but a AFC Championship Game appearance will set the tone that the culture has changed, and improvement has happened, Miami is no longer a doormat and instead of having the need to play rooks, we can then draft some luxuries like a Running Back early, or a guard to push Smiley.
Or a Te.
Ive got a whole year to analyze whether he is the problem in our running game, if the offense is ascending at the end of the year relative to last year, then i think he should be resigned.
Imo, i love him as a leader, but i do have my feelers on and will be watching closely.only because iam always thinking about our future.

As much as I love Pennington, he is a bit of a liability. 8 men in the box is not good for Ronnie Brown and our running game.
I do not, however, want Henne to start this season. Let Pennington, the QB who guided us to a 11-5 season, start. He deserves it.
Pennington has injury issues. . but that aside I see him as the best thing since Marino at that position.
There is no way we dont re sign him. . look last year our oline kept Pennington to just 24 sacks all year and he only threw 7 INT. . that is awesome.
With year 2 of our rebuild and some experience and chemistry on the team now I can see that being about the same this year. . we look good and I think we finish at least 2nd in our div with a good solid 10 wins.
Pennington is a class act and what a coup to pick him up. . fantastic. . Henne may be the future but I think he can wait another year or 2. . he is still young and Penny can really groom him into something special. .
Pennington will make it impossible not to bring him back for another year at least.
Pennington :theman:
Quarterbacks who had a lot less talent then Pennington have been able to win the Superbowls......mainly due these QB's be fortunate enough to be on great teams. I would take Pennington before Trent Dilfer if I wanted a QB to win a SB or playoff game. Chad just went up against a fantastic defense in the Baltimore Ravens, and he just didn't play that well, regardless of what the Ravens were able to do. But without Chad we would not have come close to winning the AFC East last year.
"BuckeyeKing wrote:
:lol: it brings me back to when he use to play for the Jets and every Dolphin fan that hated the Jets would call him Noodle arm now that he is a Fin they defend him to the grave :D
I'm glad we have Pennington he is the best QB since Fielder. Not saying much.
Since Fiedler? More like since Marino in his prime. Chad is eons better than ol' Jaybird was.
“... I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"padre31 wrote:
Well...sort of...if we think about it, our key young players will be moving into their third and fourth yrs in 2010, losing Penny in 2010 would be a setback, but look at all the guys who will be moving into their primes
Long
Thomas
Ginn
Turner
Hartline
Davis
Smith
Bess
Lankford
Merling
White
HenneTo me, that will be our "core" for many seasons to come.
We'll see about Wake and Soliai, but a AFC Championship Game appearance will set the tone that the culture has changed, and improvement has happened, Miami is no longer a doormat and instead of having the need to play rooks, we can then draft some luxuries like a Running Back early, or a guard to push Smiley.
Or a Te.
I think Paul Lankford is past his prime. Perhaps you meant Kendall Langford?
“... I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can.”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"Roman529 wrote:
Quarterbacks who had a lot less talent then Pennington have been able to win the Superbowls......mainly due these QB's be fortunate enough to be on great teams. I would take Pennington before Trent Dilfer if I wanted a QB to win a SB or playoff game. Chad just went up against a fantastic defense in the Baltimore Ravens, and he just didn't play that well, regardless of what the Ravens were able to do. But without Chad we would not have come close to winning the AFC East last year.
what if we had peyton manning?


2019 DRAFT WISH LIST
1) DT Dexter Lawrence - Clemson
2) DE Jaylon Ferguson - Lousiana Tech
3) OG Chris Lindstrom - Boston College
4) CB Amani Oruwariye - Penn State
5) DE Shareef Miller - Penn State
7) C Sean Krepcz - Nevada
7) RB Wes Hills - Slippery Rock
Reporter: "Why did you fire Coach Gase?"
Ross: "Because he wants to win now"
"adamprez2003 wrote:
:tongue2: just for once I would like to see Ginn hit in stride as he streaks down the sideline for a TD
IMHO its more about timing than a strong arm, if Penny was just a hair quicker on the trigger he'd hit our guy in stride!!:wink2: And I really think, in the case of that one throw, Penny is gathering himself up, thinking to much, rather than just letting it flow. The man, praise the lord, has a giant case of the "I want to be perfect" in him!! JMO

This is the only thing I’ve learned: There’s only us. There’s no them. Despots and authoritarians need to make a “them” to have a straw man whom you are against. If you need to make an enemy of “them,” you’ve lost the spirit of us. - Ken Burns of PBS

the Pennington Renaissance continues
got to love this guy. he is the face of the New Miami Dolphins
- Competition is the Elixir of Success -
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