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10-30-2007, 06:43 AM
By Associated Press | October 30, 2007
Eric Mangini summoned Chad Pennington into his office and broke the news that the New York Jets have a new starting quarterback.
It's Kellen Clemens's turn to see if he can turn around the season.
"Coach made it clear that I'm not the villain here," Pennington said yesterday. "And I'm not the only one to blame for the lack of our success or our problems, but he did feel like Kellen deserved a chance."
Mangini's announcement yesterday that he's going with Clemens as his starter for Sunday's game against Washington wasn't a huge surprise. It's a move fans and media have been suggesting for weeks as the Jets have struggled to a 1-7 start.
"I made this decision not based on singling out Chad for where we are, but based on the fact that I think Kellen has earned this opportunity," Mangini said. "I want to give him this opportunity. It's in no way an indication that Chad is solely responsible. We all are."
Pennington, 31, in his eighth season, has failed to move the offense effectively as the Jets have lost five straight and rank 30th in total offense; only Buffalo and San Francisco are worse.
"When your team is struggling, people look for answers and coaches have to look for answers and sometimes the first position that is looked at is the quarterback position," Pennington said. "I understand that."
Clemens, in his second season out of Oregon, replaced an ineffective Pennington late Sunday in the Jets' 13-3 loss to Buffalo. His entrance was cheered by those remaining at Giants Stadium, the same fans who booed Pennington when he failed to move the offense early in the game. Clemens was just 5 of 12 for 67 yards and 2 interceptions, but one of those came on a desperation toss as time expired.
"It's exciting to have the opportunity and I'm looking forward to the chance to play," Clemens said. "At the same time, there's a losing streak right now that this team needs to work hard to turn around."
Eric Mangini summoned Chad Pennington into his office and broke the news that the New York Jets have a new starting quarterback.
It's Kellen Clemens's turn to see if he can turn around the season.
"Coach made it clear that I'm not the villain here," Pennington said yesterday. "And I'm not the only one to blame for the lack of our success or our problems, but he did feel like Kellen deserved a chance."
Mangini's announcement yesterday that he's going with Clemens as his starter for Sunday's game against Washington wasn't a huge surprise. It's a move fans and media have been suggesting for weeks as the Jets have struggled to a 1-7 start.
"I made this decision not based on singling out Chad for where we are, but based on the fact that I think Kellen has earned this opportunity," Mangini said. "I want to give him this opportunity. It's in no way an indication that Chad is solely responsible. We all are."
Pennington, 31, in his eighth season, has failed to move the offense effectively as the Jets have lost five straight and rank 30th in total offense; only Buffalo and San Francisco are worse.
"When your team is struggling, people look for answers and coaches have to look for answers and sometimes the first position that is looked at is the quarterback position," Pennington said. "I understand that."
Clemens, in his second season out of Oregon, replaced an ineffective Pennington late Sunday in the Jets' 13-3 loss to Buffalo. His entrance was cheered by those remaining at Giants Stadium, the same fans who booed Pennington when he failed to move the offense early in the game. Clemens was just 5 of 12 for 67 yards and 2 interceptions, but one of those came on a desperation toss as time expired.
"It's exciting to have the opportunity and I'm looking forward to the chance to play," Clemens said. "At the same time, there's a losing streak right now that this team needs to work hard to turn around."