Originally Posted by
The New York Post
August 24, 2003 --
WITH 1:47 left in the first half of Jets 15, Giants 14, Chad Pennington got off the beautiful new Field Turf at Giants Stadium bent over in agony and clutching his left wrist, and the Jets season along with it.
Pennington had been tackled by linebacker Brandon Short at the end of an incomplete pass to LaMont Jordan, and apparently had landed hard at the finish of his fall. He was immediately surrounded by the Jets' medical team, and Wayne Chrebet kneeled over the crowd and peered in. Herm Edwards couldn't bear to look at Pennington's face.
Pennington walked off, cameras following and flashing, through the tunnel and towards the X-ray room, which suddenly housed the 2003 Jet season.
It is the same room that officially pronounced the Jet season dead on Opening Day, 1999, where confirmation came that Vinny Testaverde had torn his Achilles.
It is the same room that officially pronounced the 2003 Jet season dead.
Fracture-dislocation, left wrist. Fracture-dislocation, Super Bowl dreams.
Surgery last night at Lenox Hill Hospital. Prognosis unknown. Or not revealed.
Mum was the word throughout the shell-shocked Jet organization last night, and players, on orders from the head coach, pleaded the fifth.
But The Post has learned that Edwards, on his way off the field, told a member of the Giants organization that there is a possibility that Pennington could be gone for the season.
Minutes later, Edwards told the media: "I have faith and I'm putting it in the right person's hands. It's in God's hands."
But first it's in Vinny Testaverde's hands.
"I'm very excited," Testaverde said. "At the same time, I'm sad for Chad."
Edwards has more of a backup now than Bill Parcells had back then, when he turned to Rick Mirer and eventually to Ray Lucas.
Herm Edwards has Testaverde, and all his experience, and all his right arm.
"He's won before," Edwards said, "and we expect him to go in there and win again."
One problem: this team was built for Pennington, and not a quarterback closing in on his 40th birthday, to take it to a Super Bowl.
Pennington, remember, is The Franchise. Pennington (22 TDs, 6 INTs) was The Natural who came off the bench a year ago and saved the Jet season. He was the Jets' Blond Bomber, their counterpart to Jeremy Shockey.
He was the Wonder Boy who headbutted his teammates during introductions and was so cool and threw with such accuracy that we couldn't help ourselves comparing him with Joe Namath and Joe Montana.
He led the NFL with a 104.2 passer rating and 68.9 completion percentage. His teammates voted him MVP. He was The Perfect 10.
When Laveranues Coles took the money and ran to the Redskins, the Jets told the world not to worry, their West Coast offense is quarterback-driven anyway.
Well, the driver has only one good hand now.
Parcells put on a brave front when he lost Testaverde, and vowed that he was not about to wave any white flags, but deep down inside he knew better.
The Jets will rally defiantly behind Testaverde, who grew even taller in the eyes of his teammates when he played the part of the good soldier following his demotion and never stopped helping the babe through the NFL woods.
"We got a seasoned vet in Vinny," Curtis Martin said. "We don't feel like we'll miss a beat."
Only if Testaverde somehow gets his 1998 magic back.
There will be more responsibility on the shoulders of Martin and the offensive line. More of a burden on the defense, which reminds no one of the '85 Bears. More genius from special teams coach Mike Westhoff. More leadership from Edwards.
Testaverde, still physically strong and mentally tough, was the scapegoat for the Jets' slow start last year. He has plenty of pride, and will be itching to redeem himself. He does throw a better deep ball than Pennington.
"I feel like I'm ready," Testaverde said.
He can win you games. Just not enough games to win a championship.
"Anytime you lose a guy like Chad," Testaverde said, "your heart drops, because we know how valuable he is."
Here is how you describe the Jets today: Sad Penningtons.
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