Following the news that Chad Pennington is out for the season with a re-injury of his rotator cuff (see previous post), and that Jay Fiedler suffered a shoulder separation (rehab time unknown, but he could be out for the season also), the Jets have a major challenge at the quarterback position. They have one remaining quarterback - Brooks Bollinger, a sixth-round draft pick, who spent most of his limited pre-season playing time running for his life behind the backup offensive line, comprising mostly players no longer on the Jets' roster. He is therefore an unknown quantity.
The Jets therefore need 2 quarterbacks - quickly. One of the QBs needs to be a starting-calibre QB.
So far, all that the Jets have done is call in Doug Johnson, Jonathan Quinn and Jesse Palmer for a tryout today. None of those players is a starting-calibre QB (although Doug Johnson has played for offensive co-ordinator Mike Heimerdinger in a previous life).
The Jets tried to sign Matt Mauck off the Titans' practice squad late yesterday, but the Titans nixed that move by transferring Mauck to the active roster.
There are very few starting-quality QBs available. So far the Jets have not even contacted Vinny Testaverde, who has indicated that he would love to come back and play again. Tim Couch is available, but his fitness is still in question following multiple arm and shoulder surgeries. After what happened to Pennington, the Jets could be forgiven for being wary of any QB coming off of surgery on his throwing arm.
There are a couple of other former starters sitting waiting for a phone call - Shawn King, Jeff George. King has been inconsistent in the past, and most recently got the quick hook in Arizona when he did start. Jeff George is, well, Jeff George - with all of the sublime and ridiculous that entails.
Trading for a QB is an option. The Redskins might be willing to part with Patrick Ramsey, who appears to be in the doghouse in Washington right now. Billy Volek is a possibility, but expect the Titans to hold onto him as insurance in case Steve McNair is lost for the season - McNair is no longer bulletproof as he gets older.
It is beginning to look as though Pennington has a warrior's mindset but a fragile body. He has never had tremendous arm strength, relying instead on accuracy and timing. He has always thrown what coaches call a "very catchable ball". However, 2 rotator cuff injuries in 2 years would give any athlete an uphill struggle to be 100% fit again.
The Jets may have to adapt to life after Chad Pennington, not out of choice but out of necessity. In the meantime, they need to sign a starting-calibre QB quickly, if for no other reason than to bolster roster and fan morale. The current tryouts cannot be the answer for recruiting a starting QB.