^ your point? edit: Are we supposed to be grateful that he's being classy? I don't get it. He really has no other choice than to handle it the way he is. I feel zero gratification as a fan because of the way he's handling this situation - it's truly irrelevant.
Junc's the type of person who appreciates what someone has done for him in the past. He doesn't turn his back on a guy who was there for him in the past. I'm sure junc makes for a truly wonderful friend, but in terms of talking about sports, it just doesn't work. He is consistent though. Regardless of the sport or team, he always remembers what guys have done for him in the past. Like I said, probably a great friend, but not the kind of guy I can see eye-to-eye with when it comes to my teams. As I said before, sports is "what have you done for me lately?" And Chad's done zilch.
That doesn't mean I never want to see change, IF Clemens beats out Chad or IF Chad plays like he did last year I'll want Clemens in there and I will root for him regardless of the circumstances. I just waon't bash guys that have done so much for my teams through the years. I don't sway w/ the wind. I stick by people if I believe in them. There comes a point where changes need to be made and I endorsed the change to Clemens last year to see what he had but neither QB was good last year. I HOPE that BOTH play great in TC and it's a difficult decisions and I HOPE the guy that wisn the job plays great all year whether it's Chad, Clemens or Eric Ainge. I want to win but I malso appreciate what Chad and other guys have done for my teams through the years. it's RARE to have such class guys like Chad and Curtis Martin and we enjoyed them together for a few years. Someday people will look back and appreciate it, I have the ability to appreciate it while it's going on. "Chad's done zilch" except take us to the playoffs 2 years ago, he didn't win a SB but it sure beats going 4-12, right? So he has done something for us lately.
But fellas, if "class" doesn't matter, why not return to the Keyshawn Johnson era? Can anyone imagine if Chad was a Me-Shawn type? "Gimme the damn ball. I deserve the starting job, not that little stump-jumping runt. Did you see him against Kansas City? He stinks! What a freakin' joke, I mean, Oregon? Gimme a freakin' break. He needs to go back to running around the farmyard with that freakin' tractor tire strapped to his waist."
Key was a dick head in NY, no doubt, and i wouldn't want players to act like that. Most players don't act like that, and not acting like a dick head shouldn't be one of your best or most discussed attributes as a player. It should be something people talk about after they talk about your skills, abilities and accomplishments. Curtis Martin - Great Player, Outstanding Work Ethic, top 5 all-time rushing yards, leader on and off the field and a class act 100%. Chad Pennington - Had a great season in 2002 and was always a classy guy. Big difference. IMO you're SUPPOSED to act classy. You hear more about the clowns that aren't classy because it's not news when someone is classy.
"Mangini man, listen up. I'm the mutha fuckin' quarterback around here, you dig? I don't care how much of a Mo-Fo genius you are, you aint' shit if you start that little jerk. Think your wideouts respect that twirp? Get serious dude. I've got the team on MY side dude, so don't think you're gonna make ME ride the pine... you and me's gonna have some serious issues if you're goin' there, you copy dude?"
Chad hasn't had an outtstandiong work ethic? Please let's not forget that ONE QB in Jets history has started in 3 different postseasons so to say all he had was 2002 is just not fair. Last year was his first poor season when healthy.
I wasn't trying to say Penny does or does not have a good work ethic, I was simply trying to make a point. If you believe Pennington is in the same class as Curtis Martin as a football player, then we definitely have to just disagree. 2002 was his only great season. Everything else has been not much more than average IMO. I'm not even trying to debate how good of a player Pennington is or was. That argument is old, tired, and worn out - I've gotten caught up in it far too many times already and it's just stupid. I was simply trying to make a point about the whole "classy" thing because I find it annoying.
"Say what? Wazzup with you now? I thought you were on MY side dude, now you're like all the rest. Listen man, you try throwin' the mutha fuckin ball behind that shit-ass O-line they had me behind ladt year. I put my soul on the line for this team, man. Mangenius my ass. If he had an ounce of smarts he would've had an O-line last year. And what about his 3-4 bullshit? That worked, huh? Couldn't stop shit, so's I get the ball back and it's all on MY shoulders like it always is. And go ask my main man Coles and Cotchery if they're gonna make plays for that little lumberjack, stump-jumpin twirp. They'll tell you. He aint' as smart as me and he don't know the mutha fuckin' playbook either. Kellen CLEMENTINE... heh... heh... Oh yeah... now THAT's somethin' I think I'll put in my next book too! Hahahahahaaaaa....."
He had a poor year in 2006... He has had three seasons where he didn't miss multiple games due to injury, 2002, 2006 and 2007. He was great in 2002. He was below average in 2006. He was horrible in 2007.
I'm with you... Hey, Chris Baker is kind of a jerk, and James Dearth is a really good guy... James Dearth has never been anything but classy for us. He's gone about doing his job as a LS, and never worried about trying to get PT as a TE... He works his ass off every year, and willingly signs autographs for all the kids. He's been a part of more playoff teams than any LS/TE in NYJ history (I'm not sure if that's true...) I don't care if James Dearth is incapable of being anything more than a below average TE in the NFL, he is very very classy and has a history with the team. I hope he wins the starting job
There were alot of reasons for it but Chad did have a poor 2007. Chad was GOOD in 2006, he was far from poor and a major reason we won 10 after winning 4 the year before w/o him. He was definitely great in '02, he was on his way to a great year in '04 before the injury and he was good in 2003. Chad isn't as good a QB as Curtis was a RB but pre-shoulder injury Chad was one of the best QBs in the NFL and post-injury he did lead us to 10 wins 2 years ago so he can still play. NOBODY could have succeeded behind that OL last year, let's see what he can do behind the revamped OL this year. 2002 he was great, '03 he was very good until the last few games when defenses began to realize Chad only had 1 WR to throw the ball to, once they took away Moss Chad had problems. 2004 he satrted out great until he got hurt and overall had a very good year. 2005 he was hurt early, 2006 he was good, 2007 he was poor. He only has ONE poor healthy year. The clasy thing is about Jet fans who have slammed Pennignton despite all he has done for this team. I have no problem w/ folks wanting to see KC win the job BUT my problem is if Chaddoes win the job I know most of them will be complaining and rooting for Chad to lose his job w/ poor play. That's not what being a fan is all about, I want my team to win no matter who is playing. It's a bonus when we get to root for good players who are also good people.
We're not as far apart as you might think. There's no question that if Chad comes into camp and blows the doors off the barn that I'll be cheering for him on Sundays. However, if he doesn't come out and truly impress everyone in preseason games, then he's not going to do the job during the season, and I'd rather he simply take a backseat. I understand your loyalty to Chad, and I don't knock you for it. I simply don't have the same loyalty. The QB that led this team during a comeback year a couple years ago is not the same guy who will be wearing #10 this year. Of course, that's simply my opinion, and is subject to change once he puts pads on. The fact is, like you, I don't care who the starting QB is. I just want them to win. Hell, I never even remotely liked Mike Vick, but if he were wearing Green, I'd root my ass off for him. I just won't let a guy rest on his laurels when they weren't all that great in the first place. Peyton Manning earned his right to not win Super Bowls (before he actually did). Tom Brady earned the right to not win every year. Chad Pennington has earned the right to come to camp, and try to play his ass off to earn a spot on the team. Nothing more, nothing less.
Again, I'm not here to debate how good Penny is, isn't, was, or was not. I'm in the same boat as you as far as rooting for whoever the QB is. I would never, ever root against Penny if he did win the starting job. I will actively root against him winning it, but if he does win I'll still root for the Jets to win and for him to do well. I get that you're a loyal guy, and that's fine, but fans are entitled to their opinions of players and not many are as loyal as you. I think it's unreasonable for you to expect others to be as loyal as you are. It doesn't mean we're not classy if we don't stick by a guy that we feel isn't helping the team win. I think fans just want their team to win and don't care if <insert player> did something great 5 years ago if he's not doing the same now.
The reason why we kept Chad is because Clemens was the worst qb in the league last season. But Chad is not a starting qb. He's more of like a Pat Ryan -- he's a good leader, but his skills are sub-par. So the Jets, as of today, do not have a starting qb on the team. They need to work hard to trade Penny and a pick(s) to Green Bay for Brett Favre. The Jets should not and cannot afford to begin this season with either Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens at the most important position on the team.
I don't see why. The Jets are not a threat to Green Bay, and Chad Pennington is a great back-up qb, and surely the Packers don't want Favre. And the Jets should be willing to part with a draft pick or two. I think it's a win-win situation for both teams. I believe that if the Jets truly want Brett Favre, they can make it happen.
I don't get the whole "He's classy!" bit. He got one of the highest Qb contract numbers ever based off one good but incomplete season. Since then he's been mediocre and when the team asked him to reneogiate, he and is agent were quite difficult. He offers all these ridiculous excuses for his not getting it done anymore. There was just now again the comment about having again to re-analyze his mechanics. It's clear his performance is not about re-analyzing his mechanics. He's a beat up over the hill has been who is trying to hold onto his job to make more money. I don't blame the guy for trying, but that doesn't mean he deserves some kind of medal. But, as others have pointed out, that's all beside the point. It is irrelevant to whether he can play well enough to help the team. I am convinced the answer is no.
Can we say for sure that Clemens is not a viable starting quarterback? I mean, how long was Eli Manning a sub-par quarterback before he finally came around at the very end of last season? As recently as the Giants-Bills game last season, he had a horrendous performance. Of course, the Giants had to stick with him in light of how much the invested in trading for him. I'd like to see Clemens at least a little more (with an improved O-line and a healthy set of receivers) before I decide what kind of quarterback he is.
