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Pennington taking a positive approach


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Pennington taking a positive approach

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Although QB Chad Pennington has had two rotator cuff surgeries in the past eight months and his career is in jeopardy, he's not off in a corner feeling sorry for himself.

Pennington, injured in Week 3 against the Jaguars, is attending meetings, practices and games (home and away) and trying to contribute in any way possible as he watches the Jets' once-promising season sink into the abyss.

"He has been awesome," quarterback Brooks Bollinger said yesterday. "He has been so supportive of me. It's been just great. Chad is a resilient guy.

"He's really been through a lot the last two years and the hardest thing to do probably is show up here everyday and be positive. Not many people would be doing that right now. But he has. He has been working hard like he always does."

Pennington, who is running and lifting but won't begin throwing until March, will be given every opportunity to regain his form. The club has invested $22 million in him over the past two seasons.

The Jets (3-10), who play at Miami (6-7) on Sunday, will likely pass on USC quarterback Matt Leinart if he's available in the draft because they want to be sure about Pennington before moving on. Pennington, 29, isn't speaking to the media these days -- he'll talk after the season -- but he's saying plenty to Bollinger, who has struggled at times while going 1-5 as a starter.

"If he sees something (during a game), he'll come tell me," Bollinger said. "If I kind of need another opinion, I'll ask him what did you see there? We see it the same way (many times). I've been with him longer than any of the other offensive guys."

RB Curtis Martin underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee yesterday in New York. Coach herman Edwards said through a team spokesman that the procedure went well.

Dolphins MLB Zach Thomas made a questionable leg whip tackle on Martin that injured his right knee in Week 2 and led to the running back's ultimate demise.

"I'm surprised that it (Martin's injury) is from that hit," Thomas said via a conference call. "When you think of the Jets, you think of Curtis Martin. I hate to see a guy hurt, especially a class act like him."

Thomas said it'll be a "little odd" to play the Jets without Martin, C Kevin Mawae (his chief nemesis) and WR Wayne Chrebet.

Thomas said RB Ricky Williams, who quit on the team last season, is doing well. "You can't complain about Ricky," he said. "He's committed. The guys are really pulling for him. He has won the team back."

The Jets are 0-7 on the road this season. ... Rookie K Mike Nugent has hit nine of his past 10 field-goal attempts. ... DT Dewayne Robertson (quadriceps), DE Shaun Ellis (hamstring) and T Scott Gragg (back) didn't practice and are listed questionable. Ellis won't play. RB Derrick Blaylock (foot) practiced but is questionable. ... Dolphins C Seth McKinney (knee) was placed on IR. DT Keith Traylor (knee) didn't practice and is questionable

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The Jets are 0-7 on the road this season. ... Rookie K Mike Nugent has hit nine of his past 10 field-goal attempts but has four times as many kickoffs out-of-bounds (4) than touchbacks (1). Nugent's weak leg continues to put the Jets defense in poor field position on team's inial possession.

:shock::shock::shock:

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PatsfanTx I am one that is not buying this supposed directional kicking by Nugent that I see floating around- if a guy is supposed to have a strong leg let him utilize it!

Ah. I was waiting for a Jet fan to comment on this.

Good call faba, and I also agree that "directional kick-offs" are a bunch of crap.

The Jets took Nugent in the 2nd round because of his "so-called" cannon leg. He is now 1/47 on touchbacks this year.

If he boomed the ball into the end-zone like he was advertised to do, directional kick-offs would be a moot point anyway. :shock:

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Two things about Chad.

He better commit to restructuring his contract or I can give a rat's a$$ about how nice of a guy he is.

If he is healthy he needs to get SUBSTANTIAL playing time in all of the preseason games. No more feeling your way through the 1st couple games of the season

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