Dolphins coach Tony Sparano confirmed that Chad Pennington is his starting quarterback for 2009. http://www.rotoworld.com/content/home_NFL.aspx http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/01/04/wildcards/1.html
Based off this season's performance I say yes to Chad, even though his gameplay in a clutch situation was less than stellar. He was rattled hard, and never got settled down. Of course the Raven's D could do that to damn near anyone.
Is anyone surprised by this? I'm certainly not, you can't ditch him after the season he has just had.
I'm ok with that. Chad had a very bad day, against arguably the best Dee in the league. But without him, Miami doesnt make it to the playoffs. Get him some help at WR, and better protection next year, and he'll do fine. People shouldnt lose sight of the fact that we are still rebuilding. And IMO, Chad is our best option to stay competitive during the rebuild. I know some will want to see what we have in Henne, but I think one more year behind a veteran QB, will be better for him in the long run.
I don't think you could find a better QB for Henne to work under. Two years under his tutelage should prepare him for an incredible debut season.
Agreed 100%. It really is a win- win situation for Miami right now. For the first time, in a long time, The QB spot is not a ?
Thats the safe choice and will help lure free agents, but Henne is going to compete in training camp and will need playing experience to grow. You can only learn so much watching from the sidelines. That tells me this team goes heavy defense in the off season and maybe adds a veteran WR.
Now if we could just get someone dominant to throw to. Our WRs played hard this season, but realistically I don't think we have an elite WR on the roster.
No big surprise here. You start the QB that you know can get you in the playoffs and you work on the Oline, running game, and defense you need to win in the playoffs.
I like Sparano decision, Chad did earn the right to be the starter next season, which Henne under he's guidance will help him a lot.
So, 2009 will be the first year without some sort of QB controversy since when? 2003? When Fiedler was our clear cut starter.
Even though the rookie QB totaly outplayed him i would still support him to be our starter next year. GO Dolphins!!!
Agreed on all counts. THey're not going to announce that Penny is anything but the starter at this point. I also have no reservations if he retains the job next year. We could have much worse, and we have for a LONG time. Other positions on the team have much more glaring needs as well. Having said all that, I find it hard to believe that if Henne shows he's reaching the potential that they feel he has.... which is at a level above anything Pennington offers, that they will sit Henne and go with Pennington.
I think to permanently bench Chad would have been a bad move. Something similar happened to McNabb this year. He got ripped apart by that Baltimore D, got benched in the game, yes, but he started the next game and if Reid had gone with Kolb you can all but guarantee the Eagles wouldn't be in the divisonal round of the playoffs.
I don't feel like going through the Gameday Thread but I read during the 2nd quarter, halftime, 4th quarter, etc. people saying they should put Henne in the game. Also its clear that if reporters had to ask if there was a controversy, then there had to be some talk, somewhere.
Gotcha. Gameday threads are annoying during the game, but often post game gold for humor. Heat of the moment **** talking, etc.
Its really a no Brainer. There's not alot of players in the NFL that could have done for us what Penny did, much less on our roster. Hopfully Henne and Beck will develop, but Penny may outlast both of them.
This is the right move. Until further notice (i.e. injury, more performances like yesterday), you have to leave him in to see how far he can take us. In the meantime, prep Henne! As Chad has shown - unfortunately - throughout his career, he follows up a great season w/ a big injury. Let's hope history doesn't continue to repeat itself for him!
Let's hope Pennington breaks his curse/hex. He hasn't really had two great seasons in a row. Nor completed two full seasons in a row