Chad Pennington (1/12)

don't think I've ever done that. Have you. Well, when you say done that, you mean write them down, you mean like made like a promise to myself that December thirty one that I'm gonna do this sting Jane. I don't know if I have like, Hey, I'm not gonna eat chocolate, or I'm gonna work out, not even chocolate as a post an hour a day, or maybe I'm gonna get my cardio going, or I'm not gonna say

profanities when I'm mad. I've never done anything where I'm like, when the new year is right on the horizon, Okay, it's time to change it up. Okay, that's fat. I don't look at it as a resolution. I look at it as a time to reflect. And then maybe did you reflect like tweets. You're very introspective. That's surprising, man. Okay, all right, yea we have new goals. Okay, good for you tweaking. I don't need the New Year to do that. You understand what I'm saying. I don't need the New

Year to do it anyway. I just think that the the world does it then because it's a time when everyone can turn the page together. Yeah, but the world does not turn the page together because there's so many different time zones. So I'm just summer when I'm sitting in Foxborough. I mean, Australia is already celebrated, you know. And I've had a couple of cans of Fosters and you know, they're already into January first. And speaking of Years Eve, it was ferociously called in New England. You know,

the the Gillette Stadium is a nice place. I will say that the Jets haven't had a lot of success there of late, so I was very happy to get out in New England. But I heard they have good clam chowder in the press. Body. Yeah, they have clam chowder at a little Tabasco and pepper in there. Yeah, clam chowder, solid Tabasco is synonymous to whatever e A is eating. No, it's actually buffaloes. Okay, okay, all right,

any kind of any kind of hot sauce about that? Yeah, So you know, both Mike mcagne and Christopher Johnson addressed the media season ninety news conferences after Todd Bowles talked to the press, and what we know going forward Green's is that the Jets aren't happy that they want five games this year, and they do think they made some progress, mostly in the chemistry department. With that being said, every year is new and the Jets are gonna add some

new pieces right around the corner. With the league year beginning in March, they have a lot of money just by and Mike mccagnan said, I would probably classify us as being potentially very active in free agency, like you know, with with the calf space um and hopefully we can do some things that help move this team forward. The Jets will be very active a free agents. I think if you're a Jets fan, you have to be very excited. You know that the team is going to have some

new faces at different positions. Obviously that goes for the same for every year. But when you don't have an answer at quarterback here. Offseason becomes very interesting, especially through the eye of the fan. And that's not to say that Josh McCown won't be back, because he very well could. But we'll talk about this with Chad Pennington a little later. Is that he has some tough decisions to way, whether you know, he wants to retire and spend time with

his family, if he wants to come back. Jack mccagnan said, we'd welcome Josh back. Well, yeah, but the Jets have to, you know, determine ultimately whether he fits in their plans, their immediate plans as well as Josh McCown's thirty eight years old, he's coming off a career season. He was beloved figure within organization, and he played tremendously on the field. Let's not take away from what McCown did. And of

course he was named team MVP making those thirteen starts. Um. But uh yeah, you know, but there's gonna be some interesting names on the free agency market and we're gonna have to see how the dominos fall and we'll learn about different teams plans in the weeks and months ahead. Oh and by the way, the Jets have the sixth overall picks, so definitely gonna be some opportunities to plug up some holes with marquee players through the draft, through

free agency. Obviously, it's a time will tell game as of now because it's January and nothing comes until Mark. But the landscape is so much different than last year because last year we went in. Yes, the Jets won five games in two thousand seventeen and won five games in two thousand and sixteen, But after the two thousand sixteen season, we were wondering what was going to be the futures. Anna Marshall and Nick Mangold and Durrell reave this and Nick Folk and Reno, Jock Amani and Ryan

Fitzpatrick and all those guys. The Jets part of the ways with a lot of veterans who had contributed here, and some of them have contributed for a long time. Some of those guys are gonna be Ring Honor inductees for this organization and a couple of them could be Hall of Famers. David Harris is the guys trying to get a Super Bowl ring with New England Patriots right now. But the Jets had a part ways with a lot

of guys last offseason. This offseason is a completely different field because it's gonna be who fits us, We gotta make our additions. Now you have a lot more flexibility going into this offseason, and I think the Jets are gonna get a lot better, not only with what they do in free agency, but also with the draft because you mentioned number six. Overall, they got three picks in the top forty nine. Pair two's courtesy the Sheldon Richardson deal.

And how good does that deal look right now? Sheldon richards a very talented player, no doubt about that, but he could become a free agent himself. And the Jets picked up Germaine Curse and they have an additional second round pick. And even though free agency the league year turns in March, the Jets will have opportunities to resign their own players until that point, so they never hit the market. So the guy that sticks out to me other than Josh McCown is Damario Davis because he came

here in June, had a tremendous year. He loved it here and he loves it here and he was the leader of the defense. So that's someone that I mean, all these guys say you got you gotta give mccagnon a lot of credit. You thinking Damario Davis, a two thousand and twelve draft pick. He goes and spends his first couple of years here, then he goes in Cleveland. But mcagnan acquired him in a swap for Colvin Prior. Yeah, like you said, Kelvin Prior no longer in the National

Football League. A nice signing with Morris Clayborne. Or worked with the Jets training staff throughout the year, and he stayed healthy for most of the year. I know he battled UH some various elements, but Morris claymore and gave you a lot. Austin Safari and Jenkins was a waiver claim in two thousand sixteen. He had a career year. And of course you think about what McCollum gave you UH free agent signing last March. So you gotta give mccagnet a lot of credit for some of these guys

he picked up. You mentioned the other day in my office the trade for Terrence Brooks before this season, the guy who gives you some at the safety position, that acquired him from the Eagles in exchange for UH Dexter McDougald. So the list goes on and on. We saw Coney really making some early contributions. But listen, little boy Xavier Cooper. Oh, Coop, Yeah, Cooper played well for the defensive line UH down the stretch, but hey, thanks can change in a hurry in the

National Football League. And I was just talking to Letter Williams about it and during his season ending UH interview with aust the Content team, and I said, isn't it weird? You've been on a league for three years and you came in and everybody's talking about this defensive line. David Snacks, Harrison was here, Mohammad Wokerson, Sheldon Richardson. My point is, Greens, things change in a hurry in the National Football League. All right, let's check in with Chad Pennington. Chad are

you doing man? All right? Buddy? How are you good? Me and Greenberg, how have you been down there in Kentucky for the New year? Well, fellas, we've been freezing as well, but we had a deep freeze. We didn't get the cyclone to hit us, but we certainly felt the cold air for sure. Have you been letting the horses out of the barn? Are they staying in the stables a lot, so I was taking them out to get a little sunshine. Makes us I've been taking them

back to the to the barn, especially overnight, no doubt. Okay, So Chad, when you look back at the Jet season, they finished with a five and eleven record. That's the exact mark that they had in two thousand and sixteen. But we've been talking about it on the podcast throughout the year. We this team showed a lot of signs of progress and on a macro level, what did you see from the Jets this season and what do they

got to do mover four? Well, I think first of all, you you did see a staff who, um really got a lot out of the team. I thought that the staff did a really good job scheme and putting the players in positions to make plays and trying to develop some of the young talent on the team. I thought that was a plus, no doubt. Obviously, you have to be excited about your two safeties, your young linebackers. You

feel like you have speed there. Um. If there was one part of the defense that may have underperformed a little bit at times, and it probably would be due to the fact of losing players as well as not having some cohesence there may be in the defensive line just a little bit, may may need to expect a little bit more from the defensive line, just being able to be able to get pressure on the quarterback without having to blitz um as much. But the most part,

the defensive effort was solid. Offensively, you saw some signs of shining moments of players that really came into their own Robby Anderson, ball Pale thought Safarian Jenkins really did a good job at tighty end and Josh McCown had some nice moments as a quarterback. And so you take take some of those positives and then look where can the team get better? Where can it really make strides? And I think obviously everyone's first question and wanting an

answer would be at the quarterback position. Whereas the team headed as far as the quarterback position is concerned, Chad, what's the thing you like most about this team? Because we've touched on a number of things throughout the season, but few were trying to convince someone on the side of the road that the Jets are pointed in the

right direction. What do you point to? Well, first of all, point to uh just a film and the games that all of us watched, UH and being able to see how the team was in just about every game they played. That's the first step of being competitive weekend and week out. And now it's about adding the right pieces to not only be competitive, but now turn those close losses into victories and being able to buy for a playoff spot. Josh McConn is thirty eight years old. His family resides

back in Texas. This past season, he set career highs and completions completion percentage passer this year and touchdowns passing touchdowns with eighteen. He also made a career high thirteen starts. He loved it here. He was a great presence in the locker room. The Jets appreciated his contributions. Now we turn to the business side of pro football. What do the Jets have to do as they evaluate their position and conversely, what does Josh have to do as he

looks forward Now? Well, personally, Josh has to take a look at what he wants to get accomplished. UM with his family. I know that he has UH kids now that are getting up in age in the middle school years moving into high school. When those are such precious years to be involved with your boys and your girls and watch them grow. And I can say that because

I'm going through that right now. So that's something personally for him that's a tough decision to make, and so it will be interesting to see what he decides to do. It wouldn't surprise me at all he decided to, uh, you know, say that this was his last year playing and he'll move back to Texas and and really focus on his family. That would not surprise me. But at the same time, it would surprise me the other way either if he wanted to stay a couple of years.

That's going to be a decision between he and his wife and trying to make the best decision for their family. Um, and then moving forward, you know, looking at the quarterback position, I think it's really really interesting because he can go so many different ways based upon free agency and draft and who you already have in the room. Uh. I'll talk with a good friend of mine, Byron left, which the other day and uh, he just finished up coaching with the Arizona this year. But I thought he made

an interesting point. He said that for him, having three quarterbacks in the room is crucial to the success of that room. The two quarterback systems he doesn't believe works as well UM, and that whole dynamic of of who those three quarterbacks are UM can really help determine how successful you are in that room as far as the young guy you're developing, a veteran who's keeping the room stable,

and then your starter. Whatever that dynamic is, is very important, and I thought that was an interesting point that he made. We have a lot of time to talk about quarterbacks who potentially will hit the market, uh in March. It's January right now. And a couple of guys who just declared for the two thousand eighteen NFL draft, Josh Rosen from u c l A. Sam Donald from up the Street at US see the Jets picking number six. Overall,

here's the NFL draft order for your chat. Cleveland at number one, the Giants, and number two Indianapolis and number three Cleveland again at number four, that's not a misprint, and then Denver at number five. If you think about three teams up there before the Jets, they could be in the market potentially for a quarterback. Cleveland, the Giants. Eli Manning has had a tremendous career as you know competed against him a number of times throughout your career

as a pro chat. And then the Denver Broncos, who I think have a playoff roster, they did not get playoff caliber quarterbacking at any point this season. And we'll have to see what happens and pro free agency in the trade market. But what do you think about the Jets position? I mentioned those two top quarterbacks. Then you got Josh Allen who is entering the draft out of Wyoming as well. A lot of people are high on Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma, Lamar Jackson out of Louisville,

Mason Rudolph out of Oklahoma State. So the list goes on and on. What do you think about the Jets position right now? At number six overall and with the money they have to spending free agency and you know, addressed a lot of areas a lot to handle there for well, it's it's actually it's unique, and it's a little bit tricky. I think, Um, your evaluations in your scouting department are really critical here as far as the college talent as well as the free agent talent. Their

work is cut out for them this off season. It is not very clear at all as far as what could and could not happen? What do you know about any of these guys just yet? And Uh, I believe you told me the other day. You'll be down in uh Mobile, Alma, Alabama working for the NFL legends again. Um, so the senior ball you'll be able to see Josh Allen practice. You'll be able to see Baker Mayfield practice.

But what what do you know just from your cursory glances at these guys when you're not shuttling the boys back and forth and running the football leagues down there. Uh. And you're so involved with the USA Football as well, doing tremendous things. But what do you know about any of these guys who are going to be drafted here in a few months. Well, I think the three top

quarterbacks there in the draft, um, Josh Allen. Uh, there has always been a huge concern on completion percentage when your completion were sentence in colleges sitting there at h in the fifties. Um, that that to me is a concern. Um. And that's where you really have the determined Okay, was that based on decision making? Was it based on pure inaccuracy? What does the film tell you why that completion percentage is like that, because you should see an upticking completion

percentage as a guy progresses through his career. UM. With Sam Donald, I think decision making is one of his Uh. You saw this year where UM decisions were being made that were questionable and certainly put their team in bad situations sometimes, So you really got to take a look at that. And then with Josh Rosen, I think you've

really got to try to evaluate what he's all about. UM. Is he a guy that is about himself or is the guy that you know can really come in and have those leadership qualities needed to be the CEO of your offense and quite frankly of your organization when it comes to in between the white lines. I think those are the three big questions for those three guys. We're gonna find out a lot about all these guys here coming up in the a couple of months with the

combine the pro days. Like I mentioned, a couple of those guys will be at the Senior Bowl. But I'll tell you what, the guy who not every Saturday had the greatest stats in the world because I think people were stacking the box left and writing ast them for my money, say, Kwan Berkley might be the bust overall player in the entire draft. There's no question Eric Keiths

kind of been a forgotten guy. Um. People are so hot on him early in the season, and when you watch him play, I mean, he is uh gosh, here look at my goodness. He makes it look so seamless and easy. H and you know that they're not UM. And you can certainly see where he could be an instant game changer for any team that he's drafted by. He has that ability to really change the direction of a team, UM pretty quickly, Um, because of what he

can do on the field. Chad. Last question for me here is what's your philosophy of quarterbacks through free agency versus the draft, Because obviously the big question with the draft is the quarterback going to be successful in the NFL? And usually top guys that are drafted, you know, one to six, whatever it, maybe those are guys that fans

are clamoring to start from day one. Whereas through free agency, yes, you're spending more money, but you're also getting you You theoretically know what you're getting in the person you bring in the building. Well, The decision that has to be made and has to be thought about is when if you bring in a free agent, what type of free agent is he? Is he the type that understand that he um is going to be the guy for a couple of years and needs to groom a young guy.

Some guys can do that, some guys can't. Uh, And you have to understand when you're bringing in that free agent is he capable of doing that? Are you bringing in free agent that's just the starter period and you're not even worried about the draft that that's that's the

other thing. And so that's the decision that really has to be made, and sometimes that's not there's not enough emphasis put on that as far as the man that you're bringing into the walker room and into the building and what he brings to the table other than just playing on the field, because that determines what the rest of that room, the quarterback room looks like um And so that there will be a lot said based upon who they do bring in free agent wise, if the

Jets do, and then what that means for the draft, who do you anticipate will be playing in the super Bowl? As you look at it right now, as we had in the divisional weekend well a f C, I think it's certainly comes down to the Steelers and and Staces. I don't think the Jaguars nor the Titans have a

chance at all and winning these games on Sunday. I think those two teams are the are the two elague teams in the a f C. And the reason that the Steelers do have a chance to beat the Patriots because they have the offensive firepower UH to compete and to score point for point, and it's really gonna come down two in New England. Can Pittsburgh's defense get a few stops UH to create an advantage for Pittsburgh's offense

Gonna be very difficult to do. You know, Losing that game in the regular season completely flipped the tide on the Steelers and made it much more difficult for them to try to win the a f C. In the NFC, it's a really interesting dynamic. You have three um Dome teams and UH, the Saints get the benefit of going to Minnesota, which I think if they had to go outdoors and play Philly or being outdoor stadium, this divisional

round game would be completely different. But I'm really interested to see how Drew Brees and the Saint offense plays against the Vikings defense indoors, even though it's in Minnesota, it is indoors, and those elements are gone the one element you're doing with this crowd noise um and and so that would be interesting. Um. And then with with the Falcons, can they deal with the elements and feeling this game was inside? I think you know, you would

really say, hey, they've got the edge. Um. So that those two games I think are completely up for grabs. Uh, and they could go either way. I think the winner of the New Orleans Minnesota game this weekend wins the Super Bowl. Wow, yep, sign me up, because I think Minnesota right now probably has the most complete roster in football, but we don't know what we're gonna get out of case Keenum and he's facing one of the best who

ever played your position, cheat and Drew Brees. And while they got stuffed with the run game last week against Carolina, Breeze wanted with his right arm, and he can do that again if they get man Hannah up front where Breeze doesn't have any time at all. I can see Minnesota winning that game. And uh, and going on obviously and staying at home and playing at home there in

the Super Bowl. I just think that the winner in this game, you can beat either one of the clubs over there in the A f C side, because I feel like they're more complete. And even though the both Pittsburgh and New England had those prolific offenses, I think New Orleans has a match for everybody because the run game and breeze with the past game and they haven't depended on breeze so much this season. And then I'll

worry about New Orleans defense. I worry about that they have played better, much better than the few years passed. But I just worry, you know that a little bit soft. Um, there's no question. And what's obviously scares them about Minnesota and the Philadelphia is just quarterback play. Look at look at the National Championship game. I mean the quarterback play wasn't the difference in those two teams, who had athletes everywhere,

solid defenses. Um, The difference in the first half was that the quarterback played for Georgia was outstanding and the Alabama quarterback play was non existent. And then in the second half, when Alabama got the quarterback play it needed, and that's what it turned the tide. And and that's where you really see it because when you get down to it, a quarterback is going to have to make some plays whipped his arm to really create that separation that your team needs. And the two a f C

teams in Pittsburgh and in New England they have that. Uh. NFC wise, the Saints and the Falcons have that, and the questions lie with with Philadelphia and Minnesota. But there are the two teams that have the home field advantage. So you can certainly see them getting through because of the home field advantage. But then once you get the Super Bowl, there's no home field advantage. What does it

look like? Now? It's gonna be fascinating. Well, that was fun. Yeah, we're gonna have to catch up with the real soon because you're going down to the senior ball to the mobile real quickly. What are you gonna be doing? Uh? And down and during Senior Week, So the NFL Legis community has sent three of us down to Mobile, all

three of us Winter Wheeler, Donovan, Darius and myself. We played at the senior boat UM and so uh, it's one of those um extensions of the NFL to really begin to build relationships with our young players and our prospects now instead of after they're done playing from a

league perspective. Two, to use um places like the Senior Bowl, the combine the draft to really introduce the Legis community to these young prospects where things are going well now, that's because they see our faith and they know that we care about it now when they do become a former player, and right now they can't think about that, but there isn't inevitability there that that will happen, that they have a place to go and people that care about them and their and their success off the field

and after football is over, and so really establishing those relationships and having at the presence now it's so important. And that's that's the reason for the NFL Legends Community. A. Right, that's gonna be awesome down there, but we'll definitely catch up before you take the trip down to Alabama. You don't have to go too far ourselves. Jead Pennington, thanks as always, Thank you guys. All right, that was Chad Pennington. EA, you gave your predictions, Chad gave his. I'm going to

Saints Patriot. That's my call. I think the Saints go to Minnesota two times in the postseason. They never play outdoors, like Chad Pennington says, I think that helps them. And then I think New England doubles down against the Steelers, gets the win in Gewlette Stadium, and then they'll be looking for number six. New England has had a lot of people's numbers over the years and included and that

has been the Pittsburgh Steelers. I did not watch that first meeting, and I think that I think the Jets were on the road, that was the four o'clock game that week, um did not see any of that action. With that being said, I think Pittsburgh is gonna go to New England Championship weekend taking care of business. They they're gonna take down the Patriots. And I'm not saying again, I know a lot of people are gonna roll their eyes whatever. I just feel that way. I feel New

England's vulnerable. I think Pittsburgh offensively has the ability to put it all together and make just enough stops against the Patriots offense to win. But I agree with Chad, I don't give Tennessee and Jackson On much of a chance to win this weekend. And on the other side, listen, I've just been thoroughly impressed by everything New Orleans has

done since the beginning of the season. I give him I have a slight edge over Minnesota, and whoever's coming out of that game was going to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, and I think as you and I think that team will win the Super I think a Falcon Saints NFC championship would be tremendous. It would be those teams hate each other um and those games are great. And not to mention the NFC South, they got some talent down there. Because the Saints and Panthers

played three times. That was a season that was all of the game, and I give New Orleans a lot of credit for winning that third battle. It's really hard to beat a team, especially a team who was solid and pretty complete, well rounded on both sides of the ball, like Carolina. They beat him three times from one year. That's tough thing to do, and they got it done.

Some nail binning moments for the Saints fans. But listen, as Randy Lang wrote, New York just stm last week, the Jets were three and one against teams who participated on wild in wild Card weekend. The other thing we should mention is that the Jets played very very well against every playoff team because you think about their battle with Atlanta there, clash with Carolina here at MetLife Stadium, and then their home game against New England the last

game of the year. A little bit different, Bryce Petty in the lineup for Josh McCown, but buying large. The Jets very competitive this year. Todd Bowles said it in a season ending message to the Jets. Here one Jets drive with no excuses. He doesn't want anybody saying, oh, well, we were competitive, or we stay close, or it was just a couple of plays, things like that. That's the Jets match or I think heading into the off season, no excuses, get it done, baby, and just looking ahead

real quick. Not going to dive into it. But the Jets are playing a lot of the current playoff teams next season two. Because you got the Vikings, he got the Jaguars, the Bills, the Titans, and of course the Patriots every year twice a year as along with the Bill. So we'll touch on the schedule at a later date. But that's all. We got e a's and e g. S Super Bowl picks and playoffs, and Chad Pennington, so

make sure to stay tuned. Just because football is no longer here, it doesn't mean that he and I stopped. There will always be a podcast on the Official Jets Podcast Network, so make sure to stay tuned.