This guy always says you can't predict baseball, but it's getting harder and harder to predict anything in sports nowadays.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum stated Monday that he believes that quarterback Chad Pennington will remain with the Green and White for the 2008 season.

"He's under contract.  I expect him to be back. I expect him to compete with Kellen, and certainly, if opportunities come along, we'll look at them and try to get Chad's reaction."

Yeah, that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement if you ask me.  True, Pennington is under contract for next season and is due to make $4.8 million.  His contract will also count $7.8 million against the cap.  Both figures aren't unreasonable for a quarterback in this league.

A starting quarterback, that is.

This has all the makings of a bluff and I'm not sure who is going to fall for it.  I understand that Tannenbaum wants to get the most for Pennington on the trade market by claiming that No. 10 has a chance to regain the starter's role, but it just doesn't ring true to me.  Pennington played the good soldier once Kellen Clemens was handed the starting job and has said that he won't demand a trade, but having the two QBs battle it out in training camp next year makes no sense to me.

I'm not sure what Pennington would have to do in training camp to win the job.  He reads defenses better than Clemens and completes a higher percentage of throws.  He also has the respect of the entire team.  Clemens has the bigger arm and more mobility, but he has shown a lack of pocket presence and has been erratic in the passing game.

Tannenbaum conceited that Gang Green would listen to offers for Pennington, but it looks like the Jets won't be asking Pennington to restructure his contract.

"We're comfortably under the cap right now.  So I don't see the economics driving any decision right now with him being here or not being here."

I've already stated (probably ad nauseum) that the Jets can win with Pennington at the helm.  I might be one of the only people left out there that believes that, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  However, I think a quarterback competition between Pennington and Clemens would be unfair to both players.  Pennington shouldn't have to prove himself against a kid who was less than super when he was given the keys to the offense this past season.  And on the flip side, I think putting Clemens in a situation against a respected player could stunt his development as a quarterback.

Then again, maybe I'm wrong about this whole thing and the open competition will prove beneficial for both quarterbacks and the Jets.  Still, if I had to bet money on it, I think Pennington will be wearing a different uniform come training camp.

In other Jet news, it appears that wide receiver Laveranues Coles is looking for a contract extension.  Coles played his guts out this year (what else is new?) before being placed on the IR for the final two weeks of the season with a high ankle sprain.  LC has two years left on his $11 million deal and Tannenbaum said the team wants to keep No. 87 in the Green and White for "a long time."  Let's see what that means.

And finally, the Baltimore Ravens have interviewed Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for their head coaching position.  It's not often that a coordinator that masterminded an offense that ranked 26th in total offense and 25th in scoring gets a shot to run a show, but that seems to be the situation in Baltimore (even though it appears a real long shot).  The Ravens haven't exactly been world-beaters on offense either.  The Purple and Black finished 22nd in total offense in 2007 and just above the Gotham Green in points scored (24th).  I don't think Schotty is going to really improve on those numbers if he gets the job.

Then again, you can't predict football.

Leave a comment

Also on the Network: √ Doing It The Hard Way [C70 At The Bat] √ Bobby Jenks Saves Sox's Win Over Seattle [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Deadline moves [Feeling Dodger Blue] √ Manny's impact [Feeling Dodger Blue] √ Shea Stadium Plays Citi Field [Loge 13] √ Frustration Revisted [C70 At The Bat] √ Not So Fast, T-Mac [Tremendous Upside Potential] √ Payroll breakdown [Feeling Dodger Blue]

2 Comments