Chad Pennington – $64 million dollar man? Hardly.
Pennington is not the prototypical NFL quarterback. For one, he lacks the great arm strength or mobility to be a stand-alone star worthy of this price tag. He will not throw like Peyton Manning or run like Michael Vick, which would be somewhat tolerable despite a fat contract, if Pennington – like New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady – was the glue that held a winning system together. But he is not.
Pennington was already slated to carry the load of the Jet offense this season, a daunting task in and of itself. However, his new contract will create added pressure to get the Jet offense flowing immediately.
Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Jesus or Moses in his prime would be hard pressed to carry the 2004 Jet offense. Pennington won’t stand a chance.
Whereas Pennington, 28, is entering his prime at quarterback, his supporting cast is on the decline. Backfield stalwart Curtis Martin, 31, is no longer a premier back in the NFL. Count on Curtis for 1,200 rushing yards, but don’t expect much more. Ask Emmitt Smith, age always catches up with NFL tailbacks – even great ones.
Although Martin’s yards-per-carry have remained constant in recent years, his receiving numbers are down from his prime. In 2000, the RB registered 508 receiving yards on 70 receptions. Last season, Martin was good for only 262 yards in 42 receptions.
Pennington’s receiving core is shaky too. Although WR Santana Moss had a breakout year in 2003, tallying over 1,100 receiving yards, uncertainties plague the Jets wide receiver lineup.
Fan favorite Wayne Chrebet is oft-injured and in the twilight of his career. Justin McCareins, who the Jets signed away from the Tennessee Titans, has potential – he registered 813 receiving yards in 10 starts last year. However, the New York spotlight tends to squash rising stars. Don’t rule out the possibility that the same won’t happen to McCareins.
Remember when Matthew Hatchette came to NY from the Vikings in 2001? He was billed as the next Randy Moss. Eleven games, two catches and 44 yards later, he was gone.
Fortunately for Pennington, his offensive line and tight ends are decent blockers, so he won’t get clobbered that often. But don’t expect tight-ends Anthony Becht or backup Chris Baker to help Chad get the ball down field.
Becht had a career year in 2003, where he caught 40 passes for 356 yards. However, Becht is not a game-breaking tight-end like Tony Gonzalez or even Randy McMichael.
More importantly, Pennington’s big target disappears in the red zone. He only has 16 touchdown receptions in 4 seasons as a starter and is notorious for his “butterfingers” in critical situations.
Beyond a fading offensive supporting cast, the Jet defense may pose another impediment toward Pennington’s ability to validate his monumental deal.
In 2003, the Jet defense ranked in the bottom half of the league. A repeat performance in 2004 could mean that Pennington will undergo long droughts without the ball in his hand, as opponents eat up yardage and clock-time.
Still, the Jet defense isn’t toothless. The additions of first round pick Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton to replace the aging Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones make the Jets linebacker core younger, quicker and better in coverage.
John Abraham and Shaun Ellis make a compelling defensive line pair. Ellis had a career high 12.5 sacks in 2003. Abraham is looking to rebound following an injury plagued season in which he missed 9 games due to a groin injury. And, former first-round pick DeWayne Robertson has one year under his belt.
However, new defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson is installing a complex new defensive scheme that requires a lot of on field communication. The base is a 4-3, but Henderson plans on incorporating some 3-4 formations. This new system may lead to growing pains for the 2004 New York Jets defense, particularly in the early part of season.
At corner, the Jets don’t have the size or speed to play man – with Donnie Abraham and David Barrett penciled in as starters.
Admittedly, Pennington has earned some of his bucks because he has a great feel for the game, which manifests itself in the efficiency that he has demonstrated throughout his career.
As a member of the New York Jets, Pennington has completed passes at a rate of 66 percent. He has thrown for more than twice as many touchdowns than interceptions and has a QB rating of 95.1. Additionally, having spent his entire on the Jets, Pennington is the ideal triggerman for Paul Hackett’s West Coast offense.
However, when Pennington suits up against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 12, it will be the former Marshall star’s first career start in a season opener. Yes, the Jets just forked over $64 million dollars to a QB who has never played a full season as a starter. This sets a dangerous for future NFL quarterback signings.
Should teams give similar deals to backups who step in half way through the season, play efficiently and improve their team’s W-L record, like Chad does? No.
Should a future QB who has comparable career stats to Pennington, but can stay healthy, make even more than the Jets QB? $70 million? $80 million? No.
Nevertheless, more so than the deal Peyton Manning (who is arguably the best at his position in the NFL) earned with the Indianapolis QB, the Jets’ recent resigning of Chad Pennington has raised the bar for future NFL signings.
Pennington’s deal is proof that the NFL is dangerously gravitating toward a time in which exorbitant contracts are not just for NFL immortals, the Mannings, Favres and Faulks, but for anyone who can string together a few seasons of stellar play.
Steven Orbuch is lifetime sports fan who hails from New York. While not reading stacks of books and watching tons of television, Steven writes for his college's daily newspaper, The Dartmouth.
