June 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Old quarterbacks don't fade away. First they do a little broadcasting. So, apparently, it will be for Miami Dolphins free agent Chad Pennington as he contemplates the final act of his football career. Pennington will spend the 2011 season doing broadcast work for Fox, according to this report from the Charleston, W.Va. newspaper. It's unclear if Pennington will be assigned to game analysis (most likely) or be in the studio, but however he is used he is certain to be insightful, humorous and an instant hit. Pennington, who turns 35 on June 26, is coming off surgeries to repair a torn ACL (suffered playing offseason basketball) and his throwing shoulder (the fourth of his career). He told"
April 23
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Chad Pennington's left knee is in a restricted brace, which means he's walking with a labored strut. But it is good news that Pennington, the Miami Dolphins former starter, is walking, and it's on his own. The crutches are gone a month after having his left knee repaired following a ACL tear he suffered playing pickup basketball. Pennington said he's been told it was a clear tear, which means the rehab shouldn't be extremely challenging. He's a long way from running, but the rehab process has started, and the 33-year-old is pushing his body. Pennington called himself "stupid" for playing basketball for the first time in 10 years earlier this spring. He told the Sun Sentinel the injury"
April 21
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Chad Pennington's left knee is in a restricted brace, which means he's walking with a labored strut. But it is good news that Pennington, the Miami Dolphins former starter, is walking, and it's on his own. The crutches are gone a month after having his left knee repaired following a ACL tear he suffered playing pickup basketball. Pennington said he's been told it was a clear tear, which means the rehab shouldn't be extremely challenging. He's a long way from running, but the rehab process has started, and the 33-year-old is pushing his body."
February 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Mike Berardino
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Just this week Chad Pennington had a conversation with Jeff Ireland, but it wasn't about what you might think. It wasn't about the future and whether Pennington thinks he can make it all the way back from a fourth major surgery on his throwing shoulder. It wasn't about the Dolphins' plans for their unsettled quarterback position and whether Pennington, a 34-year-old free agent, still fits into those. (Realistically, he probably shouldn't at this point in his career. Too risky.) Rather, the star-crossed quarterback and the Dolphins general manager spent that talk in the weight room at the team's Davie facility discussing "things other than professional football," Pennington said Friday."
December 9
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Chad Pennington hasn't decided if he's calling it a career. The Miami Dolphins quarterback said he's about "50-50" on whether to continue playing or move onto the next phase of his life. His right shoulder will be operated on Friday for the fourth time in seven years by Dr. James Andrews. That's the biggest reason Pennington might be leaning toward retiring after 11 productive seasons with the Jets and Dolphins — unless his competitive juices convince him to keep going. "There is no doubt I can come back, but I would have to weigh whether I'd be a liability or an asset,'' Pennington said. "That's important to me. I can only step out on the field if I feel like I can help. To rehab and come"
November 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Dave Hyde
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To one side of Tyler Thigpen, Chad Pennington's locker was vacant. Pennington had left the stadium, his shoulder re-injured on Sunday's first play, his return engagement as starter lasting 43 seconds. To the other side of Thigpen, Chad Henne's locker was empty, too. Henne was being examined in the training room. He appeared a few minutes later on crutches, his knee wrapped, his season sounding unfortunately finished, too. Here stood Thigpen at his locker, which was only fitting, considering he was the last Dolphins quarterback standing in Sunday's 29-17 win against Tennessee. "As the No. 3 quarterback, I don't ever practice with the first team,'' he was saying. "I haven't had any reps with"
November 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Tony Sparano said he had "no idea" who his starting quarterback would be Thursday night against the Bears, but it looks like his choices have been narrowed to one: Tyler Thigpen. According to a team source, both Chad Pennington and Chad Henne are "more than likely" out for the season after suffering serious injuries in Sunday's 29-17 win over the Tennessee Titans. A second team source said Pennington is "probably" out for the year with a fourth career injury to his throwing shoulder, but there is still "a lot left to learn" on Henne's injury to his left knee. With the Dolphins needing to sign at least one and likely two quarterbacks this week, journeyman Patrick Ramsey, former Raider"
November 14
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Tim Dobbins was on the opposite sideline in San Diego 13 1/2 months ago. He saw the seemingly innocuous hit fellow Chargers linebacker Kevin Burnett put on Chad Pennington four plays into the second half. He saw Pennington wind up face-down on the turf and walk off under the close observation of Dolphins trainers, clutching his right arm to his side. "Took him out," Dobbins, acquired in a draft-day trade, says with a shake of his head. "It's always good to get to the quarterback." The injury proved season ending, and a third major operation on Pennington's throwing shoulder soon followed. Months of rehabilitation came next, followed by the decision to re-sign with the Dolphins as an"
August 25
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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It's no secret that the Dolphins re-signed 11-year veteran quarterback Chad Pennington to provide leadership in the locker room while mentoring starting quarterback Chad Henne. Pennington proved Saturday that despite coming back from another season-ending shoulder surgery, he can still lead a team on the field as well. He engineered a 61-yard scoring drive in the second quarter of Saturday's 27-26 victory over the Jaguars by completing 3-of-4 passes for 54 yards, including a 10-yard check-down touchdown to Ronnie Brown. Henne, who was 11-of-14 with two touchdown passes, said Tuesday that he doesn't believe his authority in the huddle is diminished by Pennington's presence. "We share"
August 6
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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A full decade has passed since a young Chad Pennington, fresh from the campus of Marshall University, was poked, prodded and timed at the NFL Scouting Combine. So you can imagine the raised eyebrows that greeted Pennington's recent revelation at Dolphins training camp that he is back to those college-era levels, pretty much across the board. "I feel really good, just trying to get back athletically to where I was as a rookie," Pennington says. "I think that's where you can really make some strides. Just because you're getting older doesn't mean you can't hit those numbers again." So you have Pennington, 10 months removed from the third major surgery on his throwing shoulder, proudly"
August 5
Miami Herald
columnist Armando Salguero
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No one really knows whether Brett Favre will retire this time around. Favre apparently doesn't know either, with reports saying he's texting teammates he's done one day, then saying he will play if he's healthy the next day. So this little saga might play out for days or weeks before the uncertainty is resolved. But this much, at least, is certain: If Favre decides not to play, the Dolphins would be wise to involve themselves in the drama. If Favre leaves the Vikings now, after the team bet everything on his return by not drafting a quarterback or trading for Donovan McNabb, the Dolphins should try to take advantage of the situation and offer to bail out the Vikings. Jeff Ireland should"
June 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington sparingly participated in the team's minicamp and OTA practices this offseason, which raises the probability that the 10-year veteran might begin this season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Pennington, who is nine months into rehabbing his third surgical procedure to his throwing shoulder, could usually be found standing next to coach Tony Sparano and offensive coordinator Dan Henning as they called the offense's plays. When he wasn't doing that, Pennington, who has started 80 of the 89 regular-season games he's played in, was mentoring the young quarterbacks. Most inside the organization believe Pennington is destined to become a coach"
May 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Ethan J. Skolnick
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So here's a quarterback scenario, one the Dolphins would welcome: Chad Henne stays healthy from start to finish. He plays all 16 games. He plays well. And so all Chad Pennington, just two years removed from finishing second in the NFL's MVP voting, does in 2010 is hold a clipboard and offer a sounding board. Is Pennington on board with that? If, after all that rehab, he never takes a snap? If, at just age 34, he's simply a Sunday spectator? Merely a mentor? "Competitively, that's hard for anybody," Pennington said Wednesday after throwing about 50 passes in an organized team activities practice without much velocity but also without pain. "Personally and professionally, and being a"
March 24
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano preaches competition, and says he wants it at every position on his football team. And despite his designation that Chad Henne will enter the 2010 season as the Dolphins starter, and veteran Chad Pennington will be the No. 3, he's optimistic the group will remain competitive. After all, Sparano expects a fierce battle for the No. 2 spot between Tyler Thigpen and Pat White, if both continue their tenure with the Dolphins, and are still at their present position. During Tuesday's talk at the NFL owner's meeting, Sparano said he thought bringing Pennington back was important from a leadership, and teaching standpoint. "I see value with Chad Pennington in a"
March 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Chad Henne isn't scared of competition, and he doesn't care if it comes from the mentor he replaced as the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback. In fact, put Henne down as an influential endorser, pushing for the Dolphins to re-sign Chad Pennington. "I'd love it. I love Chad to death," Henne said when asked about Pennington possibly returning to the Dolphins. "Whatever happens, happens. I learned so much from him. If he's with us, I'll learn even more. It's a great opportunity if he comes back. We'll welcome him back." But that doesn't mean Henne is interested in relinquishing his job as starting quarterback. As a starter, Henne led the Dolphins to seven wins while completing 60.8 percent"
February 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland danced a little bit when I asked him about his interest in bringing back Chad Pennington in a backup role at quarterback. Earlier, Ireland had called Chad Henne "the future of this organization right now," but if both Chads are on board with the arrangement, hey, why not? "We talked to Chad [Pennington]," Ireland said. "We've talked to Chad [Pennington] on a number of different avenues. Obviously that's a decision that would show you my cards on where we're going from our offseason plan. I like Chad a lot. I think he' s tremendous for the team. He's a tremendous leader. But those decisions will be coming later." Arizona and St. Louis are just two of the"
February 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Spoke to Chad Henne on Monday at Dan Marino's rained out golf tourney, and Henne again had the highest praise for Chad Pennington. It is clear that Henne would not publicly protest if the Dolphins brought Pennington back. The question is whether it makes sense. The Dolphins like Tyler Thigpen, bit it's not really about that. The question is whether you want Henne looking over his shoulder."
February 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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One month from free agency, Chad Pennington is already fighting an inner battle over what his next stop should be. Should he sign with the team that offers him the best chance to return to a starting quarterback role he held with the Dolphins until getting injured in Week 3 at San Diego last year? Or should he take the best backup role he can find in the best overall situation, even if that means staying in South Florida as Chad Henne's mentor? "I've got all kinds of little voices in my head talking to me every day," Pennington said Thursday afternoon after participating at an NFL-sponsored clinic at the Boys and Girls Club. "It's going to be a tough decision." Pennington's rehab from Oct."
January 5
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Last year in his final news conference Dolphins coach Tony Sparano gave Chad Pennington a ringing endorsement, naming the savvy veteran the team's starting quarterback for 2009. This year in his final news conference Sparano praised Chad Henne, who was 7-6 as a first-year starter. But Sparano stopped short of anointing Henne the starting quarterback heading into 2010. "I have to sit back now and look at the entire body of work and see what Chad did really well, and what Chad didn't do really well. But I am really pleased with what Chad did, I really am," Sparano said. "This guy, he is a pretty curious guy. He likes to get better at the things he is not good at … I really like what I have"
November 18
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Mike Berardino
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Chad Pennington spends his game days camped in front of the family flat screen, watching his Dolphins teammates do battle in a roaring stadium while he plays referee to his two young sons. "They've got their Dolphin helmets on and they're throwing the football and it gets pretty rowdy and loud in there, that's for sure," Pennington said Tuesday in his first public comments since undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery on Oct. 2. And just how big is that TV screen? "It's pretty big," Pennington said after an appearance at the Miami Dolphins Touchdown Club. The same may be said of the veteran quarterback's impact on successor Chad Henne and the Dolphins' weekly offensive game plan."
October 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The first goal, as always, is to win your division. So as the Chad Pennington-less Dolphins prepare to open AFC East play this afternoon at home against the Buffalo Bills, it's not surprising that the notion of a fresh start has taken hold within Miami's 0-3 locker room. "It is a clean slate in the division," Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor says. "One of our goals was always to win this division and do what they did here last year. It starts this week with Buffalo. It's a very important game for a lot of reasons." Just four NFL teams have yet to play within their division. The Eagles, Saints and Buccaneers are the others, meaning the Dolphins are the only AFC team still looking to get"
September 29
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Dolphins have added to their thin stable of quarterbacks by trading for Tyler Thigpen of the Kansas City Chiefs, a day after learning that Chad Pennington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. The Dolphins have sent a 2010 undisclosed draft pick to Kansas City to land the third-string quarterback, who started most of last season and ran a spread offense for the Chiefs. To make room on the roster for Thigpen, the Dolphins placed Pennington on injured reserve, meaning he will be unable to return this season. In last season's 38-31 loss to the Dolphins, Thigpen completed 20-of-41 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw three interceptions, and gained 57 yards"