18 Dec 10 Chad Pennington, One Of The Class Acts Of The NFL

Ronald Martinez/Getty ImagesHe took the New York Jets to more playoff appearances than Joe Namath, Richard Todd, Ken O'Brien and Vinny Testaverde.His 32-29 record as a Jet starter is only eclipsed by Testaverde's 35-26 over seven seasons in New York.He was an absolute gentleman when Jet management exiled him to the bench despite playing hurtfor an overrated and under-achieving Kellen Clemens.He was nothing but a class act when Mike Tannenbaum, Eric Mangini and Woody Johnson decided that annointing Brett Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
Favre was the right move as he was unceremoniously cut only to be picked up by the rival Miami Dolphins and win his second, NFL AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.Ironically, Pennington would outclass Favre on the final day of the season at the Meadowlands and win the AFC East for the rival Miami Dolphins with an 11-5 record.Favre would never wear a Jets uniform again.Chad Pennington won't be going to Canton and he'll probably never play in a Super Bowl, but his class and leadership is the kind of individual traits that builds character.He's the kind of person the NFL needs.Should the Jets include Chad Pennington in the team's Ring of Honor should he retire?Should the Jets include Chad Pennington in the team's Ring of Honor should he retire?Yes, he's the most underrated and unappreciated player in franchise history!84.9%No. He was a good player who just couldn't stay healthy.14.3%Undecided.0.8%Total votes: 119In typical Pennington fashion, heembraced former Marshall University teammate Randy Moss before he would take the field in Miami where Tony Sparano saw enough of a struggling Chad Henne. Sparano understood the leadership value andefficient management of the Dolphin offense that would come with Chad Pennington calling signals.It wouldn't come to pass.In a career that had so much promise and future, injuries have haunted Chad Pennington seemingly one final time.Forthe fourth time, Chad Pennington saw his right shoulder injured on just his his Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
first play of the game after hurting the same shoulder just a year ago in week three last year.To call the injury devastating would be to put this calamity mildly.Pennington is gone for the season and probably has played his last game in an NFL uniform.Drafted 18th in the 2000 NFL Draft, Chad Pennington was the only quarterback taken in the first round and one of only twelve quarterbacks taken in that draft along with a guy named Tom Brady, who was taken with the 199th pick in the sixth round.Chad Pennington was regularly compared to Joe Montana as one of the league's smartest quarterbacks. A Rhodes Scholar, there will be life after the NFL for the man from Marshall.Pennington will leave the NFL with the highest completion percentage (66%) of all quarterbacks past and present.Doug Benc/Getty ImagesShould Sunday be Pennington's final appearance as a pro, he'll leave the game with a lifetime Passer Rating of 90.1%, 12th in NFL history. At 66.0%, Chad Pennington will leave the NFL as the game's most proficient pass completion in the history of the NFL.With seven fourth quarter comebacks and 11-game winning drives, it's too bad Chad Pennington fell prey to the violent aspect of the NFL. Injuries kept Chad Pennington from becoming aReebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
great pro.Chad Pennington never played in the new Meadowlands and probably never will. His work took place in the old stadium where the Jets were just a tenant and treated like a temporary occupant.With over 17,000 passing yards, 102 touchdown passes and just 64 interceptions, the Jets can make-up for the way Pennington was let go by adding the most accurate passer in the history of the NFL in the Jets Ring of Honor.His play on the field and character as an individual deserve that special recognition.