Jets know this much: Protect Pennington or 'it's over'

Judge: Jets' five things to know

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- New York Jets coach Herman Edwards was explaining this week how random injuries can be in pro football, saying "when it's your turn to get hurt, you're going to get hurt."

Maybe, but it's up to Edwards to make sure it's not quarterback Chad Pennington's turn to get hurt this summer.

Curtis Martin has set a lofty 1,500-yard goal for himself. (Getty Images)

Pure and simple, the Jets go nowhere if Pennington isn't around for the bulk of this season. And with four exhibition games about to begin, it's up to Edwards to determine how best to keep Pennington out of the trouble that sidelined him -- and the Jets -- a year ago.

"It's a difficult situation," Edwards conceded. "The problem for Chad is that he's started only 21 games. It's not like he's a seasoned vet."

It's a tricky situation, all right, and one Edwards must navigate carefully.

A year ago, he lost Pennington in the third preseason game with a broken left wrist. While Pennington would return for the second half of play, the Jets never recovered and missed the playoffs for the first time in three years.

Somewhere in there was a lesson, and you better believe Herman Edwards paid attention then and is paying attention now.

While he knows he couldn't have prevented the injury, suffered when Pennington fell on his hand while trying to avoid a blitz, he also knows Pennington should not ... cannot ... put himself in that position again. The next time, if there is a next time, he must throw the ball away, stop scrambling, fall down, take a knee, something, anything, to minimize the chance of severe injury.

"When he goes back to pass, we have to make sure we protect him with enough guys," Edwards said. "In other words, it's preseason, and you don't have to send five guys on the pattern; you may send only three. You're protecting the castle, and you have to make sure he doesn't get hit."

It's the same dilemma every coach faces this time of year. But not every coach leans on his starter as the Jets lean on Pennington.

Over the past two years, they're 12-9 when he starts and 3-8 when he doesn't. It doesn't take an Einstein to draw a conclusion.

"It's a key for us to keep him healthy, along with some other guys like John Abraham, Jon McGraw, Donnie Abraham and Wayne Chrebet," general manager Terry Bradway said. "But it is critical for us to keep (Pennington) on the field. He's the leader of our offense."

It's an offense that has undergone change -- with the additions of guard Pete Kendall and wide receiver Justin McCareins the most notable -- and it's an offense that indestructible running back Curtis Martin said could be the most "explosive" in years -- with Martin predicting a possible 1,500-yard season.

It's possible. Heck, the guy has done it before. But it doesn't happen if Pennington is a spectator, and I offer the following evidence: When Pennington was in the lineup last year, Martin averaged 94.6 yards rushing a game; when Pennington was out, he averaged 60.3 yards.

Case closed.

"We have the potential to be the most explosive offense since I've been here," said Pennington, entering his fifth season. "But potential doesn't mean anything other than you haven't done it yet. We have excellent talent at all positions; what we need is consistency."

Ironically, the consistency that was there in 2002 when Pennington led all quarterbacks in passing efficiency was missing a year later, when he threw one more touchdown pass (13) than interceptions (12).

There were all sorts of problems with last year's Jets, beginning with a plodding defense that couldn't stop the run and an offense that subtracted Laveranues Coles.

But it was Pennington who ultimately determined the club's direction. When he was out, the Jets didn't win. When he returned, they were as inconsistent as their quarterback -- with Pennington learning a valuable lesson.

"I learned how to come back from an injury," he said. "When that happens, you can't pick up where you left off, because there's so much down time in between.

"So, you have to start from the base, just like you're starting in training camp again. You have to keep it nice and simple; take what they give you and build from there. You can't expect to be on top of the game immediately. It's impossible."

What's impossible is imagining the Jets without Pennington.

His contract expires after this season, and Pennington has asked negotiations be suspended if there's no settlement by the end of this month, so he can concentrate on football. That seems reasonable. It also seems reasonable to believe the Jets will not let him walk away.

"I don't have any idea what will happen, and I won't let that bother me," Pennington said. "I love it here."

Pennington has been on top of his game this summer. From all reports, he is as accurate with his passing as he was two years ago -- which, it so happens, was the year the Jets won the AFC East.

Few persons expect that to happen again, with defending Super Bowl champion New England gaining all the first-place votes, but Bradway is not dissuaded.

"We're flying under the radar," he said.

They don't fly, period, if they can't protect their quarterback, because if they lose Chad Pennington again, well, I think you get the picture.

"It's over," Edwards said.