Chad Pennington issued a defiant message yesterday to Billy Volek or Patrick Ramsey or whichever quarterback is acquired in the offseason to compete for his starting job: Prepare for a battle.
"In Southern terms," the Jets quarterback said in his finest Tennessee twang, "pack a lunch and get ready because it's going to be a long day."
-----
Pennington said he hopes to be throwing by late February at the earliest and he vowed to be the Jets' opening-day starter in 2006. But not so fast. Herm Edwards, his own future up in the air, acknowledged for the first time they will sign or trade for a starting-caliber quarterback.
"We want Chad to be the quarterback, but Chad knows he's going to be competing," said Edwards, adding, "Obviously, we're going to bring in another quarterback. That's not a secret. Who he is, I don't know."
The Jets have three veterans on the roster - Pennington, Brooks Bollinger (2-7 as a starter) and Jay Fiedler, whose name wasn't mentioned at all by Edwards. That's because Fiedler, also recovering from shoulder surgery, isn't in the plans for 2006. He probably will be released next month.
-----
Pennington, displaying an uncharacteristic edge, scoffed at critics who question whether he can regain his old form.
"Medical experts can give you opinions, people can give you opinions, but they can never judge a man's heart," said Pennington, who was angered recently by organizational leaks expressing doubt about his prognosis.
-----
The names being discussed around Weeb Ewbank Hall are Volek, Ramsey and Kerry Collins. There doesn't appear to be much interest in drafting a quarterback with the fourth overall choice.
-----
Asked about the rumors about potential replacements, Pennington smiled and said, "I like the speculation because it just gives me fuel."
By March, he'll have more fuel than Hess.
