Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports the Miami Dolphins have reached a two-year deal with free-agent quarterback Chad Pennington, who was recently released by the New York Jets. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Pennington was let go after the Jets added quarterback Brett Favre, making him expendable. The Dolphins, in need of some stability at quarterback, quickly pounced. Pennington was originally drafted by Bill Parcells when he was the Jets general manager in 2000 and the two are now reunited in Miami.
This is a good move for the Dolphins but shouldn't make anyone playing fantasy football salivate. The Dolphins had quarterbacks Josh McCown, John Beck and Chad Henne fighting for the starting job. Early reports had none of the three quarterbacks separating from the each other, but McCown was the early favorite - at least for the season's start - because of his experience over the second-year Beck and rookie Henne.
Pennington has had an injury-riddled career and has played a full 16-game season once. In the last three seasons, he has started just 27 of a possible 48 games. Last year, he was active for just nine games, starting eight of them. The Miami offensive line, which is trying to find some stability after selecting left tackle Jake Long first overall this year, could cause some early concerns for his durability.
Fantasy football players should not get overly excited about this addition, but Pennington should provide stability to the Dolphins' passing game to help take some pressure off of running backs Ronnie Brown (knee) and Ricky Williams. Unfortunately, stability to a questionable passing game isn't saying much.
The Dolphins have the who's who of no-name receivers for the most part, as wide receivers Ernest Wilford, Ted Ginn, Jr., Derek Hagan, David Kircus and Greg Camarillo are all jockeying for position during training camp. Ginn, Wilford and Hagan should round out the top three when all is said and done, but Wilford is the only of the trio with any legit experience. He could quickly emerge as Pennington's go-to option in what is a rebuilding year for Miami.
Tight end Anthony Fasano, who came over from the Cowboys during the offseason, provides a potential spark at the tight end position, too, provided he wins the starting job as has been expected.
Provided Pennington quickly picks up the Dolphins' system, he should be the team's No. 1 quarterback at the beginning of the season and serve as a mentor to the team's younger quarterbacks. Unfortunately, his lack of durability in the past causes great concern as to whether or not he will be able to make it the duration of the season. In fantasy football leagues, consider him a low-end No. 2 option in deeper leagues based off of his lack of proven weapons, questionable durability and the time necessary to gel in a new environment.
