CASH-STRAPPED JETS MAY HANG CHAD OUT TO DRY
The Jets are in salary cap hell right now, needing to slash upwards of $25 million from their payroll. As a result, they are attempting to renegotiate the contract of quarterback Chad Pennington, whose injured throwing shoulder has kept him out much of the past two seasons.
On Sunday, New York asked Pennington to take a pay cut to a base salary of $1 million, with incentives to potentially compensate for the remaining $8 million he is owed. This is a clear sign that the Jets are deeply worried about Pennington’s right shoulder injury and wondering if he will ever be back to full strength.
Pennington signed a seven-year, $64 million deal two years ago, and his salary cap number is expected to be upwards of $12 million this season, including the $3 million roster bonus he is due in March. Thanks to the league’s prorated salary cap, Gang Green would absorb an eight-figure hit even if Pennington is released.
The sixth-year pro hurt his shoulder during the 2004 season and missed three games, but the playoffs. After offseason rotator cuff surgery, he was injured in the third game of the 2005 season and had another operation, missing the rest of the year.
From a fantasy perspective, consider the Jets offensive kryptonite at this point. Pennington could become a salary cap casualty, and it’s hard to see New York spending the cash to replace the former Marshall star with someone like Drew Brees, who is likely to command a decent contract. It’s not shaping up for the J-E-T-S at this point. A look at the current Jets roster indicates that the following folks could compete to replace Chad as the starter…
- Jay Fielder
- Brooks Bollinger
- Kliff Kingsbury
- Vinny Testaverde
Yikes. Talk about being stuck between three rocks and an old place. The Files strongly advocates avoiding this bunch at all costs until you hear differently.
