Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins / Photo: Newscom

Said Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano of his new star quarterback:

“I think first and foremost it was a hell of an education for the guy tonight. I think he had a couple of opportunities, certainly at the end there, to have to bring his team back and he handled it with poise. I thought he did a tremendous job managing the clock in all the situations there at the end.”

This Dolphins team is poised for Chad to succeed. Just look at the supporting offensive numbers. With a very creative Wildcat formation attack, the Dolphins are leading the NFL in rushing the football (a quarterback’s best friend) with 177 ypg and their defense is top five at stopping the run (76 ypg). That’s a recipe for success and the Miami Dolphins are well on their way in that department. I’m not predicting a Super Bowl run, but I do think the Dolphins can win the AFC East and advance in the playoffs.

Source: NFL.com, MiamiDolphins.com

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Chad Henne, Wildcat Offense Leads Dolphins

Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins / Image: Zuma Press

This is a major loss for the Dolphins because Chad was instrumental—some would even say the most important element—in helping the Dolphins improve from a 1-15 team in 2007 to a playoff team last year. He was chosen as the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year last season and he tied for second behind Peyton Manning in the league’s MVP voting.

In Chad’s absence, an opportunity arises for another Chad—Henne, the quarterback the Dolphins picked after passing on Matt Ryan two years ago. This was eventually going to be his job, but as with most young QBs just getting their first opportunity to be a starter, he’ll have his share of growing pains—ala Matthew Stafford in Detroit. His supporting cast will have to adjust from playing with a seasoned veteran to, essentially, working with a rookie as their offensive leader.

Source: NFL.com

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Chad Pennington Out For the Season

As long as I’m talking about Brett Favre’s success, I need to give props to another quarterback with a new team who had a good night. Veteran Chad Pennington made his preseason debut with the Miami Dolphins, going 5-of-6 for 55 yards, and also scrambling twice for 18 yards in a 19-14 win over the Jags. He looked sharp, but then again, so did anticipated backup QB Chad Henne. Rookie Chad led the Dolphins on three scoring drives, including a two-minute drill at the end of the first half. He finished the night 17-of-26 for 133 yards. For the Dolphins, though, there’s no decision. You go with the experienced Chad Pennington as your starter. He’ll up his Miami IQ each day and barring injury will be ready for full-time duty on September 7 against Brett Favre and his former teammates. Interesting.

Source: NFL.com

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Chad Pennington Sharp in Dolphins Win

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

It didn’t take long for Chad Pennington to find a new home after the N.Y. Jets dumped him in favor of Brett Favre this past week. Chad reunited with his former general manager with the Jets, Bill Parcells, by signing a two-year, $11.5 million deal with the Miami Dolphins yesterday. He’s in uniform (but only watching) this evening against the Tampa Bay Bucs:

“I have enjoyed it. I’ve learned a lot, 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. The most difficult part is just the realization that the organization no longer wants you. You spend eight years there and, in the blink of an eye, you’re no longer wanted there.”

Well, that’s the nature of the business in the National Football League. Feelings don’t matter a whole lot. But Chad is wanted in Miami — as their starter, no less. He’ll bring a wealth of much needed experience to a young Dolphins offense and he’ll be able to prep the other QBs (John Beck, Josh McCown, Chad Henne) for their shot at the starting spot in the future. I have my doubts that the Dolphins will be very good this season, but Chad gives the team their best chance at winning, even if it is only five games.

Source: NFL.com

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Miami Dolphins Sign Chad Pennington

Today was the last official day for the media to be working at the NFL Scouting Combine. Only one head coach made an appearance today — Detroit Lions leader Rod Marinelli. And Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian also stopped by. The final group of players to speak with the media were defensive backs. And LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey took his turn at the presser podium, making up for a missed opportunity yesterday because he was involved in a battery of tests at the hospital. I think he also wanted to clear the air regarding the rumors surrounding his attendance and ailing leg:

“I’m never surprised. I always try to set myself up to hear wild things. Some stuff I just wonder where people get it from. Even the reports saying I was not coming. I don’t know where that came from. It is what it is. I’m just trying to enjoy myself and make sure I’m taking care of my responsibility. Everybody is going to have their opinion on what they think about me and my game, but as long as I’m taking care of my business, that is all that matters to me ….. I have not missed a game since I got to LSU. Everybody gets bruised up. That’s the way I look at it. Who does not go through a season without getting bumps and bruises? I don’t think it’s an issue at all. I’ve played every game since I’ve been at LSU, my whole four years, so I do not think it’s a problem at all.”

Other than Glenn Dorsey, the talk of the day has been Arkansas RB Darren McFadden’s blazing 40-time as RBs, QBs and WRs worked out. Already considered one of the top prospects (and maybe the best overall athlete) in this Draft class, Darren ran a 4.33-40. I really didn’t expect him to get that good of a time. A 4.43 maybe. But, this was something to see. Darren was a blur. Somehow, that number was not the day’s best among running backs, though. East Carolina’s Chris Johnson ran a 4.24-40. This was nothing new for Chris. He is one of the fastest athletes at this Combine and a player teams are very seriously going to consider given his impressive collegiate stats and speed. One example — he had 408 total yards against Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl. And he’s comparing himself to Brian Westbrook. Sounds about right.

The quarterbacks impressed. My feeling that a bunch of these guys are going to make solid NFL QBs was supported by their workouts today. Joe Flacco showed off his big arm and speed for such a big guy. I thought Chad Henne (especially out-routes and deep throws) and Colt Brennan (20 of 21) also threw well. John David Booty looked sharp, especially on his long passes. He might be the most NFL-ready QB in this class. Brian Brohm showcased his accuracy, even on 45-yarders off seven- and five-step drops. Joshua Johnson is also a quarterback to watch. He was really off my radar screen until I saw his workout. Plus he ran the fastest 40-time (4.55) among the QBs. Matt Ryan (Boston College) and Andre Woodson (Kentucky) watched the action. Matt chose not to workout and Andre was nursing a hamstring.

The wideouts were a speedy bunch as five players came in under 4.4 in the 40. DeSean Jackson not only had the fastest 40-time (4.35) but he ran good routes and caught everything near him. He impressed me. One knock on him is his size (he’s a buck 70), but I think NFL’s team can utilize him much like the Bills use Roscoe Parrish or the Bears use Devin Hester. He’ll have a role for some NFL team in the fall. Indiana’s James Hardy is one of my “sleeper” picks if you can even call him that. In an NFL Network interview he admitted to needing to work on his blocking and route running, but this guy is going to be a good one. With his big frame, I think he has the potential to be unstoppable in one-on-one matchups.

Here are the winning numbers for quarterbacks, running backs and wideouts in their drills:

Quarterbacks – Bench Press (Bernard Morris, Marshall, 18); Broad Jump (Brian Brohm, Louisville, 9′7″); Vert Jump (Joshua Johnson, San Diego, 33.5″); 3-Cone Drill (Joe Flacco, Delaware, 6.82); 20-yard Shuttle (Alex Brink, Washington State, 4.19); 40-yard Dash (Joshua Johnson, San Diego, 4.55).

Running Backs – Bench Press (Jerome Felton, Furman, 30 and Carl Stewart, Auburn, 30); Broad Jump (Carl Stewart, Auburn, 11′2″ and Anthony Alridge, Houston, 11′2″); Vert Jump (Carl Stewart, Auburn, 39″); 3-Cone Drill (Ray Rice, Rutgers, 6.65); 20-yard Shuttle (Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois, 4.18); 60-yard Shuttle (Matt Forte, Tulane, 11.49); 40-yard Dash (Chris Johnson, East Carolina, 4.24).

Wideouts – Bench Press (Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech, 24); Broad Jump (Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina, 11′4″); Vert Jump (Keenan Burton, Kentucky, 38.5″); 3-Cone Drill (Harry Douglas, Louisville, 6.57); 20-yard Shuttle (Arman Shields, Richmond, 3.96); 60-yard Shuttle (Arman Shields, Richmond, 10.87); 40-yard Dash (DeSean Jackson, Cal, 4.35).

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NFL Scouting Combine 2008: Day Four