QB Chad Pennington signs a two year deal with the Miami Dolphins

[DolFan619]

  Adios, Josh McClown.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8429012/Dolphins-sign-Pennington-to-two-year-deal#

Dolphins sign Pennington to two-year deal

By Jay Glazer
FOXSports.com

Updated: August 8, 2008, 8:17 PM EST

Chad Pennington apparently didn't like his tenure as a free agent because it took all of one day to jump off the street.

FOXSports.com has learned the man cut by the Jets to make room for Brett Favre has agreed to a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

Miami saw Pennington as the best quarterback option as he reunites with Bill Parcells — who drafted Pennington as the Jets' general manager in 2000 — and is expected to win the starting job for the rebuilding Dolphins.

One of the hardest-working and most cerebral quarterbacks in the league, Pennington is the perfect fit to tutor the youngsters on the Dolphins' roster who could eventually become a successor.

After playing nine games for the Jets in 2007, Pennington completed 179 of 260 passes for 1,765 yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with nine interceptions.

[Frimp]

I hope my positive opinion on this doesnt come back and bite me in the ass.

[TonyB0D]

haha, beat me to it!  i was on the set when they announced it, wasn't near a computer.  i think my loud "FUCK" was caught on air

[DolFan619]

  The deal is reportedly worth $11.5 million dollars.

[Tepop84]

I am glad that he signed and  makes sure Beck won't see the field. 

[Thundergod]

[YoFuggedaboutit]

While we don't know what exactly what Pennington will do here, I can say that our chances of beating the Jets on opening day just got a whole lot better.  If anyone knows how to slice up that Jet defense, it would be Pennington.

[Rick]

LMFAO!!!!! .....   I think this was a great move to sign Chad Pennington!!

[Denver_Bronco]

1st down & 10- run for no gain
2nd down & 10 - 2 yd run
3rd down & 8 - 5 yd dump to RB out of the backfield
4th & 3 - Punt


Enjoy your season !!!!!!!!! 

[stinkfish]

vanilla

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphinsnew09sbaug09,0,1662932.story

Pennington lands deal

Former Jets quarterback reunites with Parcells

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

August 9, 2008

Perhaps Dolphins coach Tony Sparano didn't name his quarterback rotation for tonight's exhibition opener against the Bucs because he knew Chad Pennington was on his way.

Approximately 30 hours after the Jets released him to make room for Packers legend Brett Favre, the Dolphins and Pennington agreed to a two-year deal worth approximately $11.5 million. Now the two quarterbacks will be facing each other in a highly anticipated opener on Sept. 7 at Dolphin Stadium.

Pennington, 32, will be reunited with Dolphins Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells, who drafted the former Marshall star in the first round in 2000 (18th overall) when he was the Jets' director of football operations. Pennington also has a connection to Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning, who was his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during his rookie season.

It's clear that by bringing in Pennington, the Dolphins were not satisfied with the three quarterbacks in camp, and he is coming here to start. Although the Dolphins have two roster spots available, it's unlikely they'd keep four quarterbacks, so second-year quarterback John Beck could be the odd man out. Beck, a second-round pick out of BYU last year, has struggled in training camp, and is the only one of the quartet not picked by the current regime.

Pennington is known for his leadership, intelligence and ability to direct an offense without turning the ball over, an absolute must when playing for a Parcells' led franchise. He would make an ideal mentor for rookie quarterback Chad Henne, who has a much stronger arm than Pennington. Josh McCown is currently No. 1 on the depth chart.

"From what I've heard about him, I've only heard that he's a very intelligent player," Sparano said Thursday. "And he's always been pretty accurate with what he did with the ball. ... I know the guy's a competitor."

Pennington is 32-29 as a starter and has directed the Jets to three playoff berths since 2002, three more than the Dolphins.

Pennington's 65.6 completion percentage ranks No. 1 all-time among quarterbacks with more than 1,500 attempts. Pennington has passed for 13,738 yards and 82 touchdowns. Ten of those touchdowns came last season when he started eight games.

Pennington is not known for his arm strength, but still managed to earn the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2006 after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder. He's also beaten the Dolphins in seven of his past eight starts against them.

"Chad is probably one of the best guys overall, on and off the field, that I've ever met," said Dolphins tight end Sean Ryan, who played for the Jets for the past two seasons. "He's a consummate leader. He's like having a coach on the field. From a leadership standpoint, I think he's one of the best I've seen."

Earlier Friday in a conference call with New York media, Pennington said he wasn't interested in revenge against the Jets.

"I can say without a shadow of a doubt, I have no feelings about that whatsoever," Pennington said. "If something happens with Miami, it'll be because I feel good about the situation and the opportunity. It won't have anything to do with the New York Jets or me trying to prove a point."

[Jim Gray]

I have never liked Pennington.  Another "smart" quarterback with no arm  and a history of injuries.  If Pennington starts, his backup better be ready to play.

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/miamidolphins/entries/2008/08/08/report_chad_pennington_signs_w.html

Chad Pennington signs with Dolphins

By Edgar Thompson | Friday, August 8, 2008, 09:38 PM

The Dolphins have signed quarterback Chad Pennington to a two-year, $11.5 million deal, two NFL sources confirmed.

Pennington is expected to join the team this weekend.

The New York Jets released Pennington, 32, two days ago when the team signed future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.

A half dozen teams reportedly inquired about Pennington’s services, with the Dolphins being among the most serious.

Since then at least three teams with quarterback issues - the Chiefs, Bears and Vikings - reportedly have said they weren’t interested.

Pennington’s signing reunites him with Bill Parcells, the Dolphins’ head of football operation, and offensive coordinator Dan Henning. Parcells was the Jets GM when the team drafted Pennington with the No. 18 pick of the 2000 draft and Henning coached Pennington that season.

Pennington threw only five passes in 2000, but by 2002 was the Jets starting quarterback.

Pennington is 32 and has a history of injury, including two shoulder surgeries in 2005, but he also is the NFL’s all-time leader in accuracy (65.6 completion percentage) and led the Jets to the playoffs three times.

He has thrown only 55 interceptions in 1,919 pass attempts.

With his signing, Pennington will get a chance to face his former team and the man who replaced him - Brett Favre - in the Sept. 7 season-opener when the Jets visit Dolphin Stadium.

The question now is whether the odd man out will be Josh McCown, who just signed a two-year deal in March, or John Beck, the No. 40 pick in the 2007 draft.

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/08/dolphins09.html

Dolphins sign Chad Pennington

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, August 08, 2008

DAVIE — The Dolphins' quarterback competition apparently is over.

The team signed veteran Chad Pennington late Friday, just a day after the New York Jets released him, two NFL sources told The Palm Beach Post.

Pennington signed a two-year deal worth $11.5 million. The amount of guaranteed money was not immediately known.

Pennington, 32, is expected to fill the starting job, which had been a competition between Josh McCown and John Beck heading into tonight's exhibition opener at Dolphin Stadium against Tampa Bay.

Neither McCown nor Beck has been impressive during the first two weeks of training camp, struggling with turnovers and accuracy.

Pennington, who became expendable this week when the Jets signed Brett Favre, is the NFL's all-time leader in accuracy (65.6 completion percentage) and has only 55 interceptions in 1,919 passing attempts. He has thrown 82 touchdown passes.

More importantly, he led the Jets to the playoffs three times; the Dolphins haven't reached the playoffs since the 2001 season.

Pennington also has ties to Bill Parcells, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, and Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning.

Parcells was general manager of the Jets when they drafted Pennington out of Marshall with the No. 18 overall pick in 2000. Henning was the Jets' offensive coordinator that season.

Pennington threw only five passes as a rookie. But by 2002, he was the Jets' starting quarterback and led them to 41-0 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the playoffs.

If all goes as expected, Pennington would start against his old team when Miami opens the season Sept. 7 against Favre and the Jets at Dolphin Stadium.

Pennington was 32-29 as the Jets' starter the past six seasons, but he has a history of injuries, including two shoulder surgeries in 2005. Pennington struggled with a high ankle sprain last season and was benched after a 1-7 start in favor of second-year pro Kellen Clemens.

Pennington's arrival makes either McCown or Beck the odd man out while coaches develop rookie Chad Henne.

Henne, a second-round pick in April, has been Miami's most consistent quarterback in camp, but he also turned 23 last month.

Both McCown and Beck have been erratic, but coach Tony Sparano has emphasized all week that the exhibition games would decide the quarterback quandary.

Now, the three-man race has turned into a sprint for two of the participants.

Before Pennington's signing, McCown, a seventh-year pro signed as a free agent in March, wasn't scheduled to play tonight.

Beck, the 40th overall pick in the 2007 draft, is expected to play the first and third quarters. Henne is scheduled to play the second and fourth quarters.

After Thursday's practice, McCown said the quarterbacks were informed of the plan, but he wouldn't share it.

"It's the same thing as a game plan," he said.

"I'm not going to tell you all what we're doing on the first play."

Although the exact rotation in a exhibition game doesn't mean much, the acquisition of Pennington magnifies the importance of every snap.

Coaches might have an idea what McCown can do. He is 12-19 as a starter with sub-par teams and has 35 touchdown passes.

Beck threw one touchdown and had eight turnovers in five regular-season appearances last year.

The decision to keep either McCown or Beck could come down to whether the Dolphins want another veteran on the team - McCown - or another young QB to develop - Beck.

The injury history of Pennington, who has played a full season only once (2006), might favor McCown, who signed a two-year deal in March with $2.5 million guaranteed.

But the Dolphins could decide that Beck, who turns 27 on Aug. 21, has more upside than McCown, 29.

Beck signed a four-year deal with $2.25 million guaranteed last summer.

Stay tuned. It's only Week 1 of the pre-season, but a third-quarter touchdown drive with a crew of second- and third-string players might actually mean something.

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/634763.html

Dolphins find starting QB: Pennington

BY JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

The Dolphins' quarterback competition came to an abrupt conclusion late Friday night, and none of the three candidates currently in training camp will win the starting job.

Instead, Miami has agreed to a two-year deal with former Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, an agreement that will bring the former AFC East rival into town as the unspoken starter, two sources said.

Pennington can earn up to $11.5 million over the course of the contract. His arrival also will mean the end in Miami for either Josh McCown or John Beck, two quarterbacks who have been unable to impress the coaching staff during training camp.

Rookie Chad Henne, who was picked with a second-round selection in this year's draft, has been the only quarterback to impress the team's decision-makers at this point. Pennington is coming to the Dolphins with the understanding he will start, one source said.

Although he would not discuss such specifics of the agreements between the quarterback and the team, agent Tom Condon said Wednesday night that Pennington simply felt comfortable with the Dolphins.

Vice president of football operations Bill Parcells was in charge of personnel decisions in New York when the team drafted Pennington with a first-round pick in 2000.

''It looked like a strong opportunity,'' Condon said. ``He's had a good deal of success in this division.''

Condon said Pennington had ''quite a bit of interest,'' but Miami was ''strong in all the areas'' of the criteria the quarterback was using to make his decision. Pennington is expected to arrive in Miami at some point today to undergo a physical.

The team plays the Buccaneers on Saturday night at Dolphin Stadium to open the preseason schedule, but Pennington obviously won't be in the mix. By Monday, however, Pennington should begin his role as the team's quarterback.

Given Beck's inexperience, the Dolphins are more likely to keep him (if they can't find a trade suitor) because the team still wants to see what he develops into.

McCown, on the other hand, serves as a similar -- but less impressive -- role as Pennington. The team signed McCown hoping he would provide a veteran's presence as Henne and Beck adjusted to the NFL game.

Pennington, 32, played his rookie season in 2000 while Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning was serving in the same role with the Jets. He has seen his share of success with the Jets, but he has also been hampered by several injuries, including a shoulder problem that resulted in two surgeries in 2005.

Still, despite questions about his arm strength, Pennington's accuracy and leadership have kept his reputation strong in league circles.

With McCown or Beck facing uncertain futures, Pennington's arrival certainly will come with its share of attention. The quarterback will face his former team -- the same organization that cut him upon signing Brett Favre on Wednesday -- in Miami on Sept. 7 for the Dolphins' regular-season opener.

Pennington told New York reporters Friday he held no bad feelings toward the Jets, and his potential move to Miami would not at all be vindictive in nature.

''I can say without a doubt, I have no feelings like that whatsoever,'' Pennington told reporters during a conference call before signing Friday. ``If something happens with the Dolphins, it will be because of how I feel about the situation and opportunity. It won't have anything to do with the New York Jets and me trying to prove something.

``I've become a better professional and a better man because of my experience and my time in New York. I don't regret or feel ashamed about anything that happened to me in my time in New York.''