Chad Pennington - The End

Well it's over for Chad Pennington - as reported to me by reader/commenter, 13kvFINS, via e-mail while I was at lunch, Pennington has a torn capsule in his shoulder and will be placed on IR.  While this sounds like terrible news, and it is, we all knew he was going to be done by the way he reacted yesterday.  The normally 'glass half full' Pennington looked to be ensnared in a state of despair for the remainder of the game following the injury.

Now we also know from past experience that Tinshaker is going to find a way to find something positive in this development, and I'll start with the obvious and immediate effect of having Chad Henne finally get some game time (I told you so moment - I did mention that they should have been playing Henne instead of Pat White in those 'getting him used to the speed of the game' reps).  All things considered, I thought Henne looked calm and focused during the game, and while he wsn't always on the mark, there is no question as to which Miami QB has the strongest arm and that arm is finally going to be matched up with Ted Ginn.  Sure, they were unsuccessful as a pairing on Sunday, but they haven't had time to 'gel' and the fact that we play Buffalo next, with 3 of their 4 starting DBs not going to play, the stage is set for a coming out party for Henne and Ginn.  

No matter what happens this year, we couldn't afford to keep Henne out of the games any longer, and Pennington had a case of whatever illness Sparano has, both looking indecisive and out of sorts.  Sparano's overly-animated outburst during the San Diego missed field goal, was the most animated he's been since becoming the Head Coach of the Dolphins.  Chad Pennington's 2-minute drill this season looked just as ill-timed and inappropriate.

Now for the real positive stuff.   

The Dolphins do not have a reliable pass threat at the tight end position.  I would say Fasano has been a shadow of his former self, but that would be too kind.  What's darker and less tangible than a shadow?  The good news is that Henne obviously doesn't care about tight ends, preferring to gun the ball down the field to fast Wide Receivers.  He wants to get the ball to Ginn.  You see it every time they're on the field together.  Eventually they will get on the same page.  That useless tight end position now won't be a crutch, as it was for Pennington.  Now we'll be able to run the ball and throw the safeties out of the box with medium to deep route passing.  Also, in the Wildcat, it's possible to actually send Henne out as a pass target on the option pass.  He's done it before, seen it with my own eyes.

Because Pennington's injury was serious enough to end his season, it clears up a spot on the roster to sign a backup QB.  Had he been out for 3 to 6 weeks or what have you, someone would have to be axed.

So while there's no positive for Pennington, or fans of his (sorry herdfan), there are some silver linings for the Dolphins.