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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-chadqb091808,0,5085630.story

Chad Pennington named Dolphins' starting QB

Staff report
Sun-Sentinel.com

2:25 PM EDT, August 25, 2008

Chad Pennington officially has been named the Dolphins' starting quarterback.

Pennington has given the team's offense a big boost since his arrival from the New York Jets.

Pennington threw for 94 yards on 11 for 15 passing, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Fasano, in Saturday's 24-0 rout of Kansas City.

Pennington, cut by the New York Jets barely two weeks ago to make room for Brett Favre, has had a smooth transition to Miami.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/657085.html

Miami Dolphins name Pennington as starter

By JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

This time, it wasn't hard to distinguish which quarterback the coach was talking about, even if the names sound the same. So has coach Tony Sparano named a starter at the most critical position? Yes, he has.

And who is it?

''Chad,'' he said, leaving the last name off for a few moments of playful suspense.

Chad Pennington, that is.

The decision to name Pennington as the starter instead of rookie Chad Henne, which isn't going to surprise anyone, will nonetheless still please executives at CBS. Pennington will now be the opening-day starter on Sept. 7 against the New York Jets, when he will face the team that cut him in favor of Brett Favre earlier this month.

Pennington solidified the job during Saturday's performance against the Chiefs, when he completed 11 of 15 passes with a touchdown pass and a quarterback rating of 111.5.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2008/08/fins-penningt-3.html

Fins: Pennington to start

Stunner.

Now the question is which other quarterbacks stick, along with Chad Pennington and Chad Henne.

This isn't really about Josh McCown or John Beck, as much as it is about Henne. If the Dolphins are intent on letting Henne watch and learn all season, rather than play, then it makes more sense to keep McCown because they would be more likely to insert him for an injured Pennington. If they think Henne can play sometime this season, then maybe you keep Beck. Or maybe the third quarterback will be a guy who is currently on another roster.

Many were critical of the Pennington signing at the time.

Question: For those who felt that way, do you still feel that way?

> Posted by Ethan J. Skolnick at 2:13:39 PM

YES i still feel that way until proven otherwise.  preseason means SHIT.  besides, we ALL know he'll get injured at some point, probably sooner than later.

I'd rather have Pennington starting than anybody else on the roster.  That's not saying much.

I think most of the criticism was from frustrated fans, seeing Miami pick up another scrap heap QB.  I understand we were desperate at the position and Pennington was better than what we had.  Pennington has looked better than I expected and I like his leadership.  Emotions aside, it makes sense that we have an experienced veteran to give Henne the time he needs to develop.

That said,  I think it's very premature for the author to chastise doubters after 2 preseason games.  Pennington has played a total of 3 quarters.  Ask me again mid season.  If Pennington is still playing and playing well, I'll eat crow.

Hey Frimp, here's an idea for your Photoshop skills if Pennington's playing well. 

Hmmm really like we did not see this coming  ::) ::) ::)

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/25/0825dolphins.html

No surprise: Pennington gets the nod

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, August 25, 2008

DAVIE — If there were any questions whether Chad Pennington would become the Dolphins' starting quarterback when he signed Aug. 9, he answered them the past two weeks.

Coach Tony Sparano said he'd finally seen enough Monday.

What seemed like a formality is official: Pennington will become the Dolphins' 13th starting quarterback since Hall of Famer Dan Marino retired after the 1999 season.

The decision finalized what many have expected since Pennington came to Miami after the New York Jets released him to make room for future Hall of Famer Brett Favre.

But Sparano insisted Monday that Pennington, 32, had to prove himself to coaches and teammates before getting the nod over rookie Chad Henne.

"This has been a competition since the first day that he got here," Sparano said. "Really, none of us here knew Chad Pennington."

Pennington had ties to the current Dolphins regime, but they weren't fresh ties. Bill Parcells, the Dolphins' executive vice president of football operations, was the Jets' general manager when Pennington was drafted in 2000. And Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning had the same role with the Jets at that time. But both Parcells and Henning were in their last seasons with the Jets.

Now, Pennington will get a chance to beat his former team when New York and Miami meet in their Sept. 7 season opener at Dolphin Stadium.

Pennington left no question during Saturday's 24-0 exhibition win against Kansas City that he deserved the starting job.

He led the Dolphins on a 15-play, 10-minute drive to open the game and exited at halftime with a 17-0 lead after going 11-of-15 for 94 yards and a touchdown.

"We feel like he gives us a chance," cornerback Andre Goodman said after the game. "The last couple of weeks, that offense is making plays. He's a big reason for that."

In two exhibition games, Pennington is 16-of-21 for 149 yards and a touchdown, for a passer rating of 111.5.

But Sparano said Pennington's selling points extend beyond touchdowns and passer rating.

"I like what he did at halftime and his demeanor with the players at halftime and the way they responded to him. That really made my decision," Sparano said.

Sparano said the Dolphins' offense should benefit from a veteran leader under center.

Rookies Jake Long and Donald Thomas are expected to start on the offensive line; starting wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Derek Hagan have a combined five touchdown catches in the NFL; and tight end Anthony Fasano will be a full-time starter for the first time in his three-year career.

"Chad can manage a game really well - he's a little bit calmer in there," Sparano said. "He's seen more situations. The guy has been in some critical situations that are going to come up."

But Pennington's poise, efficiency and leadership never have been an issue. However, his ability to stay healthy has been.

Pennington has played all 16 regular-season games only once (2006) in eight seasons and missed 13 games in 2005 because of a shoulder injury that required two surgeries.

Last season, Pennington suffered a high ankle sprain in the opening week and started only eight games before Jets coaches replaced him with Kellen Clemens.

Sparano broke the news to Pennington after the media already had spoken to him.

"I'm excited," Pennington said in a statement released by the team. "We've worked extremely hard the past two weeks. I'm proud to be a Miami Dolphin."

If injuries become an issue again with Pennington, Henne, 23, is expected to be the primary backup.

Prior to Pennington's arrival, Henne had been the most impressive quarterback in training camp and had a solid exhibition season. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 133 yards at Jacksonville and led the Dolphins to three field goals.

Against Kansas City, Henne took over in the second half and struggled. He finished 2-of-7 for 14 yards and threw an interception in the end zone.

Meanwhile, the future of veterans Josh McCown and John Beck remain up in the air with the 53-man roster cut looming this weekend.

McCown and Beck entered training camp vying for the starting job. But McCown has not played since the exhibition opener Aug. 9 against Tampa Bay. The only action since the first quarter of the Bucs game for Beck has been a few snaps during mop-up duty at the end of the win against Kansas City.

Sparano said each has "done a nice job being professional" about the lack of playing time.

"I know that's been a difficult situation for them," Sparano said.

Each is hoping for one more chance to impress coaches during the team's final exhibition game Thursday at New Orleans.

They'll have to wait their turn behind Pennington and Henne. Even though starters traditionally don't play in the fourth pre-season game, Sparano said he doesn't plan to hold anyone who's available against the Saints.

"Oh we're gonna play people," Sparano said. "I'm not of the opinion that you should sit players right now, I think you start coaching scared a little bit and that can get you in trouble.

"Our players need to play and they'll play in this game."