Wow. T-Rock's blog says Chad Pennington will start at quarterback Sunday.
I'm assuming this is not a typo or a hoax.
The good news is now I don't have to write that sidebar I offered the boss about Ray Lucas' memories of taking over the Jets in 1999, the last time Gangrene started 1-6.
It would have been a good piece. Yup, I'll just dump all that material into the blog later this week, don't worry.
This Chad decision is very interesting, though. And a nice favor from Eric Mangini for sports talk hosts looking for material on a Wednesday in October.
Comments (2)
Since the Jests still play Miami once, they have to do their best to improve their draft position against teams like Buffalo, especially since they are in the Jets division. Every loss counts. Losses in the division count even more. Jets can still get a top three draft choice if they work hard enough. I know with teams like Miami and St. Louis and Buffalo to contend with, it may be rough, but if any team can do it, the Jests certainly can.
Unless you think there's nothing to lose by switching to Clemens since the team is 1-6, there's no reason for Pennington to lose his job. Just look at the difference in the Jets' winning percentage since 2002 when Pennington starts as opposed to when he doesn't-- I don't have the exact numbers, but I think it is close to .600 when he starts and less than .400 when he doesn't. Pennington played well on Sunday. The interception was terrible, but it also was sort of a desperation play. The fumble on the early snap was not necessarily his fault.
People need to realize that this team has had no running game to speak of for a year-and-a-half now. It's incredible that Pennington has played as well as he has over that span given that opposing teams do not have to respect the run. Leon Washington did some good things last year, but he wasn't an every-down back. Thomas Jones, except for a half against the Eagles, has done next to nothing this year. One wonders why Washington hasn't get more carries in 2007.
Don't count the Jets out. They have lost five games by a touchdown or less, so they're just a handful of plays from being 5-2. They probably need to win at least 8 out of 9 to make the playoffs, so it's a long road, but stranger things have happened.