Chad Pennington

James Chadwick Pennington (born June 26, 1976 in Knoxville, Tennessee) is an American football quarterback for the NFL's New York Jets.

Related Topics:
June 26 - 1976 - Knoxville, Tennessee - American football - Quarterback - NFL - New York Jets

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Pennington played in college for Marshall University, where he set school records in several passing categories and led the school to four Mid-American Conference titles. He was selected by the Jets in the first round and eighteenth overall pick of the 2000 NFL draft.

Related Topics:
Marshall University - Mid-American Conference - 2000

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After serving as a backup for his first two seasons with the Jets, Pennington was asked to start as quarterback after the team started 1-3 in the 2002 NFL season. Thanks to his play, the Jets would end up finishing with a 9-7 record, which earned them their 3rd AFC East division title and 1st such title since 1998. He would lead the team to an easy wild card round victory over the Indianapolis Colts 41-0, before losing in the divisional round to the Oakland Raiders. He ended the year with the highest Passer Rating (104.2) in the NFL.

Related Topics:
2002 - AFC - Indianapolis Colts - Oakland Raiders - Passer Rating

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In a 2003 preseason game against the New York Giants, Pennington injured his non-throwing hand, which forced him to sit out the first six games of the 2003 NFL season. The Jets lost their first four games that season and would end up with a 6-10 record. The Jets and Pennington rebounded in 2004, starting the season 5-0 before finising at a 10-6 mark. Pennington injured his rotator cuff during a Week 9 game against the Buffalo Bills and was forced to miss three games. Second string QB Quincy Carter was 2-1 in Pennington's absence. After returning to action with a rout of the Houston Texans, Pennington struggled the rest of the season and there was speculation that Pennington's shoulder was not fully healed. After a scuffle with the New York media and losses to the New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams, the Jets still managed to earn a Wild Card berth. Pennington answered speculation that his shoulder was ailing with a sterling 20-17 overtime win against the AFC West Champion San Diego Chargers. This win came in the first round of the playoffs and Pennington's numbers were impressive: 23-33 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Pennington then faced the 15-1 Steelers at Pittsburgh. Despite the Jets offensive struggles and being in a 10-0 hole, the Jets rallied to score 17 unanswered points. However, Pennington would see his season end with his kicker Doug Brien missing two crucial game winning field goals. The Steelers would go on to win in overtime, the third overtime in a row for Pennington and the Jets.

Related Topics:
2003 - New York Giants - 2004 - Buffalo Bills - Quincy Carter - Houston Texans - New England Patriots - St. Louis Rams - San Diego Chargers

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Pennington underwent surgery on his right shoulder in Birmingham, Alabama on February 4, 2005. It was later revealed that he had suffered a substantial tear in the right rotator cuff, as well as a large bone spur on that shoulder. A dismal performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 11 and a lackluster one against the Miami Dolphins the following week have led to speculation that the shoulder has yet to fully heal, but both Pennington and Jets coach Herman Edwards deny this, citing rather a lack of preseason practice and Pennington's less-than-full grasp of new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's plays. On September 25, 2005 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pennington once again suffered injury, although he re-entered the game later and almost led the Jets to victory despite not throwing well. However tests later showed another tear in his rotator cuff. He is expected to be out for the season.

Related Topics:
Birmingham - Alabama - February 4 - 2005 - Rotator cuff - Kansas City Chiefs - September 11 - Miami Dolphins - Herman Edwards - Mike Heimerdinger - September 25 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Season

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