Chad Pennington sidebar for the Palm Beach Post

Pennington returns with a victory

By DENIS GORMAN

Special to The Palm Beach Post

Sunday, September 23, 2007

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Chad Pennington extended the ball in his right hand as he took an exaggerated step into the Meadowlands' east end zone and fired the ball into the ground. A stadium full of his harshest critics roared their approval.That is what redemption looks like.For one week, Pennington will not hear questions about whether he should remain the New York Jets' starting quarterback, not after masterminding their 31-28 victory over the Dolphins. It was New York's 15th win in the last 21 games against Miami.

Pennington completed 15 of 22 passes for 124 yards with two scores and no interceptions. Pennington, who sat out the previous game because of an injured right ankle, also had his first rushing touchdown since 2004.

"It was a good thing the offensive line gave me eight seconds to get in there," he joked about his two-yard run, which culminated a 15-play drive and gave New York a 31-13 lead.

Jets fans have a love-hate relationshp with Pennington. In the opener against visiting New England, some spectators cheered when backup Kellen Clemens replaced Pennington, who was injured.

But Sunday, the fans and his team were happy to have him back.

"He did a great job as he usually does," said wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, who led the Jets with five receptions for 54 yards. "All he does is win games. Look at today: He threw for two touchdowns and ran for one."

Said Jets coach Eric Mangini: "Chad has a great presence and a great way of calming things down in the huddle. Everybody enjoys playing for him and they rally around him." Pennington's touchdown passes came in the first half - a three-yarder to wideout Laveranues Coles that opened the scoring and gave New York its first lead of the season, and a four-yarder to tight end Chris Baker with two seconds remaining in the half that gave New York a 21-13 lead.

In the second half, the Jets relied on running back Thomas Jones, who was obtained from Chicago in March for a second-round draft pick. He rushed 25 times for 110 yards; overall, the Jets ran 38 times for 141 yards.

"Thomas was on fire; he was hitting the hole when it was there and making holes when he needed to," left guard Adrien Clarke said.

The Jets' biggest play came in the second quarter. After Ronnie Brown's first touchdown run gave Miami a 7-7 tie, Leon Washington ran back the ensuing kick for a 98-yard touchdown. He wasn't touched as he motored up the sideline.

"Once I saw the hole, I hit it hard and I hit it fast," said Washington, who is in his second season out of Florida State.

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