Dolfans should be glad to get Chad!

AUG. 9, 2008 — In my nearly three years hosting radio in Miami, I have spent a lot of time defending Chad Pennington to the self-hating Jet fans and Dolphin fans as well. I did the same thing alongside Joe Benigno at WFAN before I got to Miami. Is Chad going to make Dolfans forget Dan Marino? The answer is a resounding no! But he is certainly a much better option than McCown, Beck or Henne and right now, that should be good enough for Dolphin fans.

It is common knowledge among fans and personnel people that Pennington's arm strength has and never will rival Marino, Elway or even Jeff George. He's also 32 years old and comes off two surgeries in 2005. But there are lots of impressive numbers and accolades attached to Pennington as well. For starters, his completion percentage of 65.6 percent is best EVER among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 career attempts. He was the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2006. He's thrown 82 scores and only 55 picks in his career. He's had two big playoff wins in the last four years over the Colts and the Chargers. Bill Parcells and Dan Henning know him well and he should be a positive influence and mentor for the rookie incumbent Chad Henne.

It is unrealistic for Dolphin fans to expect big things from Chad considering the youth and unproven talent on the team. It also doesn't help that he has to face Tom Brady and Brett Favre now four times a year. But I got to know Chad some up in New York and he's a good quarterback (not great) and a likeable kid. I think he's the right guy for a team clearly in the transitional state. In the end he is clearly an upgrade over Josh McCown — and the jury is still out as to whether second-year quarterback John Beck can even play in this league. I, for one, am happy to have Chad in Miami. 


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