Pennington picks Miami

by | Aug 9, 2008 | NFL News

Chad Pennington told the New York Times that if he signed with Miami it would be because he liked the situation, not because he was “trying to prove a point.”

But he will get a chance to do just that – and he’ll get that chance right away. Pennington signed a two-year deal to that likely makes him the starting quarterback for the Dolphins when they start the season in Miami against Pennington’s former New York Jets.

While those crazy scheduling elves occasionally create some interesting story lines don’t expect Pennington to provide a panacea of any kind in Miami. While he has the all-time high completion percentage for quarterbacks with more than 1,500 attempts and he is likely a short-term step up from Josh McCown, John Beck and Chad Henne, Pennington joins a team short on offensive weapons.

Ronnie Brown, who is recovering from an ACL tear, and Ricky Williams, who is recovering from … well, he’s recovering from all sorts of issues over the years, provide potentially a solid-or-better one-two running back punch. But competing for the starting wide receiver positions are the undersized-and-young, but talented Ted Ginn, Derek Hagan, David Kircus, Ernest Wilford, and Greg Camarillo, among others.

And while the offensive line may be improved, left tackle Jake Long is a rookie, Justin Smiley is a free agent import, and Trey Darilek is … well, I don’t know who Trey Darilek is, but miamidolphins.com currently lists him as the starting right guard (The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports, however, that rookie Shawn Murphy appears to have overtaken him on the depth chart).

Look, the Dolphins of 2008 are better than the team that went 1-15 last year. And with Bill Parcells, Tony Sparano and co. running things they’re likely to continue improving. But that team last year was hideous and it’s going to take a couple years before the Dolphins resemble anything that will be playoff-competitive.

If Pennington survives to see a couple years from now, however, he might get a chance to lead that semi-playoff competitive team.

Bears’ Williams out 10-12 weeks

by | Aug 9, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL News

Avoiding injuries is vital for the success of most NFL teams, especially those already short on talent in several key areas.

Chalk up another rough break for the Chicago Bears, who learned Friday that rookie left tackle Chris Williams will miss 10 to 12 weeks after surgery to repair herniated disk in his lower back.

While the Bears told the Chicago Tribune that they have no plans to put Williams on injured reserve, the news leaves the receiver-less, quarterback-less Bears also short the guy they hoped would protect the blind side of whichever of two starting quarterback candidates sucks less during the preseason through at least week 9.

If you had yet to remove Rex Grossman, Kyle Boller or any of the Chicago receivers from your fantasy cheat sheets this news should be the last dagger in any hopes you had for them. Rookie running back Matt Forte reportedly looked okay in Thursday preseason action, but I’d drop him a notch on this news. He’s probably a fine back but he’s got an uphill battle ahead of him this season.

All in all this is a tough start to the 2008 season after a rough offseason and a far below expectations 2007. Not a good start.

Brett Favre meets the mayor

by | Aug 8, 2008 | NFL ... something

The Gun sent Zoneblitz this clip from ESPN.com just as the All-Favre, All-the-Time network showed video of Brett Favre being introduced, yes, it’s true, at City Hall.

It would seem that the Jets’ new toy would have better things to do like, umm, study his new playbook. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg in fact took time to introduce Favre during an apparently well attended press conference and gave him a couple of cheesecakes, among other gifts.

Favre laughed but looked slightly uncomfortable in front of the crowd while holding a Broadway Avenue street sign. He unveiled his Jets number four jersey and then, hopefully, went right to work.

“I’m happy to be here, I really am,” Favre told the crowd. “I wish the Packers well and I really wish the Jets well. … It’s much different. And it’s very exciting.”

To borrow a phrase from the late Chris Farley’s Saturday Night Live days, “Well, La De Frickin’ Da!”

LaMont Jordan sees extensive time

by | Aug 8, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL Random Thoughts

Most mornings I keep the television off – it’s too easy a source of distractions while I try to get some real work done. But this morning I had it on with the sound off when NFL stats from last night started scrolling by. One line that jumped out at me was LaMont Jordan’s 19 carries.

The former Jet and Raider utilized those carries well, rumbling for 76 yards and one touchdown. Again, I try not to put too much stake in preseason football. But when I saw that I mentally moved Laurence Maroney’s down on my as-of-yet put-to-paper fantasy draft cheat sheets.

It’s not that I think Maroney is a bad running back or that he is going to be replaced as the starter in New England. But Bill Belichick last year seemed to show a preference for a more hard-nosed running style as opposed to Maroney’s breakaway style. Sammy Morris, before getting hurt, received 85 carries in six games, scoring three touchdowns before Maroney even once broke the stripe.

Maroney certainly came on toward the end of the season and into the playoffs and in games where Belichick needs to run more than pass I would expect that he will get a plurality of the carries, if not a clear majority. But in games where the coach thinks he can open up the deep passing game by pounding away with runs in between the tackles with a couple battering rams like Jordan and Morris, don’t discount the possibility that Maroney could become a non-factor in those games – much like he did at times last season.

I don’t expect Tom Brady to duplicate 50 touchdowns or Moss to match his 22. But Belichick loves the deep ball and at times it seems he feels more apt to get there without Maroney rather than with him.

Pennington to … Chicago?

by | Aug 8, 2008 | NFL Random Thoughts

Miami and Minnesota have been mentioned as the likely landing spots for former New York Jet signal caller Chad Pennington. But perhaps the team with the most inept current situation – and thus the biggest need – might be the Chicago Bears.

Kyle Orton completed seven of 10 passes for 56 yards and no interceptions but he did fumble for a 9-yard loss in the second quarter. Rex Grossman, who is slated to start at Seattle next Saturday, was four for eight with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wolfe, but he also threw an interception on the opening drive of the second half.

Orton and Grossman are both hampered by the lack of skilled wide receivers, but they are both of limited skills as well. Grossman has long been capable of the fantastic but has more often shown a penchant for the absurd while Orton has won a lot of games doing little more than managing the offense and attempting not to make mistakes.

If the Bears coaching staff has internally set this season aside as a building year it’s possible a move for the 32-year-old Pennington doesn’t make sense. But if that were the case why wouldn’t the Bears have brought in a young “quarterback of the future” to learn on the job, or at least figure it out from the sidelines? Caleb Hanie really hasn’t ever been mentioned as an heir apparent candidate.

So if the Bears are approaching this season thinking they can rebound from last season’s disaster a step up in quarterback play would go a long way in accomplishing that. Pennington doesn’t have a great arm, but he always completes a high percentage of his passes and he’s considered a good teammate.

At worst he could come in and perhaps offer the winner, err, lesser loser of the Orton-Grossman competition some sage veteran advice. At best he could come in and provide a steady upgrade at the position that could create enough of a passing threat to perhaps open some holes for Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, and a running game that could be fairly decent.

The Chicago Sun Times thinks it’s unlikely the Bears call, but the Chicago Tribune’s David Haugh thinks the subject at least warrants picking up the phone. Don’t you?

EDIT: ESPN News is reporting that Pennington’s agent says six teams have expressed interest in Pennington but the screen crawl does not say who those six teams are.