By Tom Rock
Well, it’s not a rotator cuff. That’s what we know so far about Chad Pennington’s injury.
Here’s what we saw in the locker room, some of which wound up in the paper and some of which may be new:
Pennington was one of the last Jets to emerge from the shower, walking with a limp that seemed more severe his first few steps and subdued a bit once he got moving. His right ankle did look swollen, particularly in the area on top of his foot. He was able to put his shoes on over the ankle, though. Getting up from the stool in front of his locker, he had that bad limp but again it wasn’t so bad once he took a few steps.
He stood for his entire press conference, walking up the step to the lectern and down it without help. Then, walking out of the stadium, he was limping but needed no assistance in the form of a crutch or even a brace or cast. He even managed to walk up the steep hill at the tunnel of the stadium, where he got into the SUV which his father was driving and was given his post-game meal. To go.
Pennington said he’d never had a “lower leg” injury, though he mentioned an ankle sprain when he was playing basketball in high school. Therefore, he said he has no idea what his prognosis will be. He’s scheduled to have an MRI today.
As for the decision to come back into the game as well as the decision to leave the game a second time, Pennington said they were all his. He said he decided to finish the day on the sideline (standing on the sideline, by the way) because with six minutes left he knew he’d be a sitting duck in the pocket and the Pats would be looking pass on every down.
WR Jerricho Cotchery said it was tough to watch Pennington try to leave the field immediately after the injury.
“A lot goes through your head when you see your leader hobbling off the field,” he said. “You had to gather your thoughts about everything and keep everything going because it’s a blow to the team.”
And if Chad can’t play on Sunday or is out for any extended period of time?
“We just gotta step it up,” Cotchery said. “If he’s out, the next guy who comes in will have to play to the level he was at or exceed it. That’s the thing about the NFL, when the starter goes down you have to come in and fill those shoes right away. There can’t be a drop-off.”
As for D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who gave up the sack that injured Pennington, he said it’s important to shake those bad plays off.
“Obviously it’s an unfortunate event,” Ferguson said. “You want to make sure he’s alright, but during the game you have to fight.”
Ferguson continued: “Obviously you don’t want to see those things happen but it’s important that you transition because if you keep that with you on the next play you’re gonna continue to do poorly. You gotta transition, say damn, I messed up, but the next play goes in and that’s another opportunity for you to win against your guy. If you’re constantly hanging your head about things that go wrong, you’re giving that defender an advantage.”
Comments (7)
A co-worker I know is very good friends with one of the Jets who kicks (I'm avoiding quoting the player obviously)... the player said to him "Don't worry, this season will have a lot of surprises in it". This is not the kind of surprise I had in mind.
Once again, getting rid of Kendall, and at least not replacing him is going to kill us... well ... kill Chad really. D-Rob is too small for NT, period. Enough of the athletic garbage, we need a big, pile of mass like a Ted Washington to plug the middle. We can't stop anything and we are so porous you could drive a semi through the holes we leave open for pass protection (if that's what you call it).
Pass rush? What is that? It doesn't exist in our defense. Brady could have cooked a 3 course meal, changed diapers, and fed a baby back there with all that extra time. What really would have been insulting if he would have stood still, walked around a little and then tossed a 50 yd bomb to Moss for a TD... oh yeah... he did do that. Sorry.
Noodle? Yes, smart guy, but let's face it. Every team we play knows he can't throw the ball deep. So they flood the box with LB's and drop into short pass coverage, stopping the run and cutting the dinks and dunks.
Well, my inexperience as an NFL coach sees all this, why doesn't Tangini?
Dare I say it... SAME OLD JETS! Boring, inept, lack-luster, and lost. The Jokes are back.
Please... don't start with the 'but the Pats are the BEST team in the NFL' routine. We didn't even put up a fight. Not even close to one.
If this is what the 'surprises' are going to be, like once again, watching ANOTHER TEAM break ANOTHER NFL record against the Jets (seems it's always us and the Bengals this happens to), I'll pass and watch Hockey this year. The Devils are looking good again.... oh that's right, I might as well get used to watching all NEW JERSEY teams.
Damn, I was so quick I forgot to type my name on my post above!
Yes, it was me again, being a loyal Jet fan and taking ANOTHER beating.
This was shades of 2005 again -- I am sick and tired of NE destroying the career of every quarterback the Jets manage to get. The rest of the Jets season with be an excersise in Schadenfreude. I can only pray someone will get to Brady someday, the way Chad has been maimed.
Bring on the Kellen Clemens era. Chad is to brittle and doesn't have the arm strength.Terrible effort by both the o and d lines.Let's hope the ship is righted by next week.
You people are idiots. You think if Clemens had his leg rolled on like that he wouldn't be hurt? The problems with the Jets are the o-line and the d-line, Not Chad Pennington.
Careful what you wish for. Pennington may not have Elway's arm, but he has Montana's brains. Clemens will get killed to death insida chree snaps!
Also,
If the jets are planning to completely misuse Jonathan Vilma's talents with a defense that does not suit his style, then please...please trade the man for a first rate offensive guard or someone who can rush the passer.
Not pushing panic button, but Vilma has been the invisible man for a year and a game now. It is not his talent that has diminished, it is how his talent is utilized. If you are going to stay in a 3-4 defense that requires Vilma to take on a guard or tackle on every play, then you are not using his talents. Get the man some freedom to wreck havoc or trade him for talent at another position. Either way, at least we would get something out of him.
I can't wait for Clemens to start vs the Ravens next week.
His first three years at Oregon he didn't finish in the top 25 in any QB passing category. As a senior, Oregon went to the run and shoot offense and he lit up the stat scoreboard joining a long line of outstanding run and shoot QB's with Heismans Trophy's and NFL draft picks.... Andre Ware, Danny Wuerful, Timmy Chang, Kliff Kingsbury to mention just a few.
My greatest disappointment last year was Tangini striking out on drafting Matt Leinart.
The actual pick LT D'Brick***house is entering the rare atmosphere of LT busts like Robert Gallery and Mike Williams.
I can't wait for Clemens to start and having Tangini taking tree strikes on their first three picks in last years draft.