Quarterback Controversy Brewing in Miami?



By Scott


Just over a year ago, 31-year-old quarterback Chad Pennington descended from the heavens into the arms of the cadaverous franchise that was the Miami Dolphins. A year later, the man who was the defibrillator for a team without a heartbeat, is fighting for his job. This is nothing new for Pennington who played under the unrelenting spotlight of the New York Media for eight years. Pennington was consistently scrutinized for his arm strength, durability issues and his ability to be a successful quarterback, even after leading the team to numerous playoff appearances. After a tumultuous career with the New York Jets, he was released in order to make room for the circus that is Brett Favre, prior to the 2008 preseason. Pennington was now without a team, and there were not many suitors for a 31-year-old with three shoulder surgeries and little upside. However, there was one team willing to give the overlooked veteran one last chance, the Miami Dolphins.

Coming off of an abysmal 1-15 record in a 2007 season which featured six games decided by 3 points (all losses), serious injuries to stars such as Ronnie Brown, Trent Green, and Zach Thomas (among others), and a guy named Cleo Lemon leading the team to its sole victory (against an injury-plagued Baltimore Ravens team), the Dolphins were, needless to say, in a dark place. And quite frankly, this was nothing new for Dolphin fans. Fans have dejectedly endured the likes of Ray Lucas, A.J. Feely and Joey Harrington as signal callers throughout the Post-Marino era (1999-2007), and as the list of failed quarterback signings painfully lengthened, the Dolphins took a free-fall into national irrelevance. The team made the headlines only for blunders such as the infamous signing of Daunte Culpepper, coach Nick Saban disgracefully bolting for Alabama, and the wonderboy, Ricky Williams. The once proud franchise was at a new low and struggling to find an identity.

After an agonizing stretch of misfortune for the Dolphins, the football gods answered the prayers of a disgruntled fan base, beginning with the arrival of Bill Parcells. Parcells’ NFL resume is second to none, and the future hall of fame coach signed on with the Dolphins with one goal. Resurrect the franchise. And to do that, Parcells would have to find the piece to the puzzle the Dolphins had been missing for so long, a quarterback.
Parcells arrived in Miami with a roar, wasting little time in dismantling the existing coaching staff, replacing them with his own coaches of choice and replacing overpriced veteran players with a mixture of unproven young talent and cast-off role players. Immediately, the culture of the Dolphins was changing. But, as training camp rolled around, the Dolphins were still unsettled with a quarterback.

As the team inched closer to its first preseason game, the quarterback competition was heated…and not very talented. The three contenders were 2nd year quarterback John Beck, rookie Chad Henne, and journeyman Josh McCown. McCown’s experience immediately gave him the edge in the competition, but Henne provided plenty of competition for the job. As the offseason grew older, neither of the Dolphin’s quarterbacks were able to pull away and solidify his spot as the starter. And then, on August 7th, 2008, the New York Jets released Chad Pennington to make room for Brett Favre, and a day later Pennington was a Dolphin. Pennington’s signing brought mixed emotion from the fan base. Many believed his arm was depleted and he was just another mediocre quarterback brought in to further complicate the quarterback competition, but others saw the connection. They saw that Pennington’s arm strength would prove irrelevant in the Dolphin’s run-first, throw safe offense. They saw that Pennington’s intelligence would prove to be invaluable to the team who so desperately needed a presence at quarterback. Regardless, the day Pennington came in was the day the Dolphins were revived.

Pennington had to learn quickly, but showed no issues with the system as he quickly developed strong chemistry with tight end Anthony Fasano and wide receiver Greg Camarillo. The team got off to a rocky start dropping their first two games of the season, including a thirty-point loss to the Arizona Cardinals. But then, the Dolphins got hot. After blowing-out the New England Patriots in New England, the Dolphins turned a switch and after starting 2-4, the team went on to lose only one more game. And how fitting it was for Pennington to clinch the Dolphin’s playoff berth by beating the Jets in New York, obliterating their playoff hopes at the same time. The Dolphins, led by Chad Pennington pulled off one of the most unlikely and astonishing turnarounds in sports history. Pennington had the best statistical season of his career, and was named the 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, becoming the only player to win the award twice. The Cinderella story came to an abrupt end a week later when the Dolphins were manhandled by the bruising Baltimore Raven’s Defense in the AFC Wildcard Playoff Game. And then it was back to reality.

Now, a year later, even after leading a team of losers from a record of 1-15 to 11-5, Pennington will be fighting for his job this year. The front office has stated that they would like Chad Henne to take the reigns of the quarterback position by 2010, or sooner if needed. Granted, this move makes sense for the Dolphins. Pennington is turning 33, and his limitations were exposed by the physical defenses the Dolphins faced in 2008. Meanwhile, the Miami front office has raved about Henne’s potential, stating that he could have had a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco-type impact had he played in 2008. Also, Henne’s arm strength would significantly open the Dolphin’s offense up, allowing Ted Ginn Jr. to utilize his deadly speed, and force opposing defenses to concentrate on the pass instead of packing seven or eight defenders in the box.

Regardless, Pennington will have to be merely perfect in order to safely secure his job and fend off the threat of Chad Henne. But with the Dolphins still lacking many of the vital pieces they will need to reach the playoffs again, Henne will likely be under center for the Dolphins in the latter portion of the 2009 season, and by the offseason, Chad Pennington will likely be looking for a job, once again.

Photo Courtesy of Sports Illustrated