Henne benched; Pennington starts vs. Titans

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has announced today that Chad Pennington will start for the Dolphins at quarterback on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Chad Henne has been benched.

"After making long evaluations of all the details involved, what I've decided to do here as we move forward is Chad Pennington is going to be the quarterback," Sparano said. "Took a lot of things into consideration, weighed an awful lot of options out. This is not an indictment at all on Chad Henne. This is not an indictment on his future.

"This player has gotten an awful lot better right now. He's come two-fold from where he was. But this is something I need to do. At this particular time as I look ahead, my decision is Chad Pennington's strengths are a little bit better suited for where we need to be right now."

Sparano said Henne is disappointed. No doubt. Henne found out Tuesday (his day off) when he came into work to study for the Titans game.

And with that the Dolphins go back to 2008 when Pennington was Miami's starter and took the team to the playoffs. Henne goes to the bench, having failed at his opportunity to show he is a consistent quarterback, much less a franchise quarterback.

If you look at this move along with the adding of soon-to-be-36-year-old cornerback Al Harris, it says the Dolphins coaching staff, front office, everyone, seems to be in win-now mode.

Interesting because this move also makes the team's decision not to add Randy Moss last week seem curious. One could understand the idea of not claiming Moss because he might somehow negatively impact Henne's growth.

But Pennington is another story altogether. Pennington is a veteran and a former teammate of Moss at Marshall University. The two are friends and so one excuse reason for not claiming Moss goes out the window.

Of course, that would assume the Dolphins had a plan to make today's quarterback move. They did not.

And that isn't great news, either. They're flying by the seat of their pants now. They're in win-now mode now. Suddenly that building toward something, that going forward always with an eye on the future is just noise.

As for Henne, don't fret on his behalf. Sparano was careful to say Pennington is the quarterback for the Titans' game. He didn't name him the starter for the rest of the season.

Pennington has been known to be injury-prone in recent years. And while he did great work in leading the Dolphins to the 2008 AFC East title, he was also the starter the first three games of 2009 when Miami was 0-3.

So is Henne cooked in Miami? I don't believe so, yet. He will likely get another shot down the road but that is unclear.

But was his first crack out of the gates a success? The answer to that is quite clear.

NO.

How else to describe it when he's benched?

Comments

[HeHateJets]

Holy crap?!

[Utdolfan]

The Pennington Era begins, lol.

[HeHateJets]

I guess now we find out if it's the QB or the OC.....

[Emo]

The Future is Yesterday!

Luck, Locker, Newton or Mallett..........

what say ye, fellas?

[Image]

Umm.. not a smooth move..

So should we start debating who the Fins will draft yet?

So much for the Dolphins getting younger.

Did Sparano forget Miami started 0-3 under Pennington last year?

[israelzion]

lol are you serious??????????? here we go again!!! another four year of rebuilding the dolphins are a joke just like the Heat !

[Finsfan]

WIN NOW!!

[mike]

Horrible decision. Not sure why this guy has taken the criticism he has received. He's a young qb that is still learning and developing, on a team that is merely average. I'm done with the Fins for the year. This decision has put me over the edge. Let's play a qb that won't be here next year and forego the future. What happens next year now. I hate being a fan of this team.

[LP]

DESPERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ncfinfan70]

No freakin way. Really? Bob Griese not available? Jeez. Give Thigpen a chance. Does Sparano really hate offense that much? I don't want to hear any mess about "game management." We were getting to the easy part of the schedule, and now our deep threat right about wherever the middle linebacker is standing. This is a bad day for the Dolphins. We're going to draft another probably crappy QB, who will need 3 years to develop. . .

[dln265]

Cam Newton watch begins.

[newenglandfinfan]

RIDICULOUS

[Chris S.]

HALLELUJAH!!!

[Emo]

Been saying for the past six weeks that we were back to post-Caneron square one QB/Coach search, regardless of this move.

Yes.....let's debate & discuss....who are the hot College QB prospects??

BTW--it is now apparent that this is why Tuna quit..........Henne's a bust.

Love me some Jake Long, but he'll be protecting projects for the nest 3 yrs at least, while Matt Ryan is qbing a p/o caliber team.

[Lance]

Torn on this one. Only because I know Henning must go. Pennington will probably run the offense better, but it's kind of like putting perfume on a pile of dog poop.

We must become more committed to the run!

[Sean Smith]

Allen is 27

Harris is 36

oops

and i suk and i`m still here!

[dfan]

WOW did not see this coming. at all!
lets hope it lights a fire

[mike]

I now believe along with Henning that Sparano needs to go after the season and it's the first time I have thought about Tony getting axed. I won't be watching. On to Hockey.

[Emo]

Newton, Mallett, Luck, Locker Dude form Boise.................who'll it be, FinFans???

[Martin]

Another example of an organization in complete disarray.

Love Penn but is he the future? Henne sure isn't, now what?

We have very few picks and still need-
Rb
Safety
NT
QB
Corner
TE

At minimum!

I look forward to a more fluid offense and less fist pumps!

Go Phins!

[Sean Smith]

all pends on who piks you

TriFlunka piked me, i stayz, baby i stayz

you feel you now what i`m saying i feel too

[Rello]

well, that's it for Henne. Tony is in full panic mode. We'll be starting someone new at QB next year.

[Emo]

Locker (comma), Dude from Boise

[Martin]

So I guess the Parcell's story was true?

Go Phins!

[Ironside]

Good move! You play your best players and we all know Chad Pennington is the best quarterback the Phins have.

[Martin]

Fist Pump!

[ALoco]

DID I SAY HENNE WILL BE BENCHED 3 DAYS AGO /

[HeHateJets]

If only we could put Penningtons brains in Henne's upper body and give him Thigpens legs...... WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY! at least ole Penny can read a defense, and change the senile calls of Henning at the line..... So Armando.... I think Sporano likes messin with u.... "Ohhhhh..... So Henne MUST start eh?...... I'll show him......" and then he fist pumps you right in the old web-log hahaha...... Cmon bro.... That's funny...

[Home]

Well
I`ll Be A Suck Egg Mule!

[James]

Henne's play dictated he sit.... The playoffs are
near!!

[BoulderFinFan]

I guess noodle arm is it. We'll see. I hope he gets another comback player of the year award :-)

[TorturedDolphan]

TeeeeHeeeeeee ..... Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahha

Well I guess you have to turn to an ex JET when you want the job done right. Bwaaaaaahahahahahahahhahahha.

Chalk up another TriSuckta failure. So basically the Dolphins have acknowledged that their noodle armed grey beard is better than the guy Ross said would be better than Marino? Bwaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

Or, even worse, they don't know yet and are going to waste another off season not knowing. Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahha.

J E T S

JETS JETS JETS

[finfan]

Wow, this is a surprise for sure but a good move imo. I like most have been sick about Henning's play calling but we are one of the worst teams at scoring points in the league (a fact) and the QB has to be accountable.

The good part about this is we will indeed find out just how good or bad Henne really is based on how the team does with Penny back there. If scoring goes up, stays the same, or goes down, it will tell us if our woes were really all on him.

[CanesRUs]

OMG!!!!! Sparano is in panic mode...... The owner might be putting pressure behind the scenes. And cutting Allen and signing Harris after placing an almost healthy Will Allen on IR at the start of the season???? I have lost all confidence in this moron and Ireland. Passing on Randy Moss, a guy that would have opened up the field for Marshall and the rest of the O????? Pennington is no threat to go deep.... the running game will be completely shut down and the CBs will sit on the short and medium patterns... 0-3 start last year for Penny!?!?!?

[Home]

Shoulda been benched at the 1st half after missing Fasano!

[LP]

Who was the last QB to lead us to the playoffs?

GOOD MOVE!
At the very least it should open Henne's eyes

[dolfanSF]

speechless.

[Home]

My tickets are no longer for sale LOL

[ALoco]

THIEGPEN WILL BE THE BACK UP FOR CHAD.P

HARRIS WILL START ON SUNDAY

[TorturedDolphan]

TeeeeHeeeeeee ..... Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahha

Well I guess you have to turn to an ex JET when you want the job done right. Bwaaaaaahahahahahahahhahahha.

Chalk up another TriSuckta failure. So basically the Dolphins have acknowledged that their noodle armed grey beard is better than the guy Ross said would be better than Marino? Bwaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah.

Or, even worse, they don't know yet and are going to waste another off season not knowing. Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahha.

J E T S

JETS JETS JETS

[The Seer]

Can't I get some draftnik convo about who are the QB prospects in the draft, please?

[clsmooth]

Absolutely terrible move that stinks of self preservation for the head coach. A conservative offense just got worse. Watch pennignton's home playoff loss to the Ravens and 0-3 last year before his 14 th surgery.

retarded fans will be calling for thigpen in two games....

[HeHateJets]

I am gonna say I highly doubt Pennington misses a wide open Fasano in the end zone..... Just sayin.... Some kinda change is better than doin the same crap and only scorin 1.2 tds per game.....

[TorturedDolphan]

Hey don't blame the FISTER. There is a reason Henne's teammates didn't vote him captain. Hmmmmmmm.

J E T S

JETS JETS JETS

[BoulderFinFan]

I think sparano & Irland got a ear ful from Ross. Win or else....
This is desparation.
Henning is next to go.

[Jonathan]

THANK YOU TONY SPARANO!! Right move, right time. Penny is EXACTLY what our Phins need now. Think and look at our offensive personnel. Our OLine is good. Not great, but overall solid. Our WR are good, a stud in Marshall and top slot man in Bess. We have 2 stud RB's. So why aren't we scoring TD's?? Our QB is only average, and WAY below average in the red zone. THAT's why. U need a savvy vet like Penny to find the open man for TD's. Great move Dolphins, if we get/stay healthy we go 6-2 second half.

[ALoco]

THIEGPEN WILL BE NO.2 .IF CHAD.P GET INJURED HE WILL PLAY

[The Seer]

cls---

I'll call for thiggy sooner than that if my retarded self feels the urge....what's the diff? Henne had to sit.

we need to focus on next year's draft.

henne will be in the league slightly longer than john beck. he ain't a starter here or anywhere.

[FishFan13]

Ryan Mallett

[cowkilla]

We will call the new QB creation...Chad ThigPennHenne

[ANOTHER REBUILDING PROJECT STARTING SOON]

What? This regime is in disarray. The savior as of three weeks ago is not trash and was cut (Jason Allen). Now Henne becomes the scapegoat for Henning?

Here some other QB solutions:
CLEO LEMON
JIM DRUNKENMILLER
CADE MCNOWN
ANY MCCOWN BROTHER
JOHN BECK
RAY LUCAS
PAT WHITE!

[TorturedDolphan]

"They're flying by the seat of their pants now. They're in win-now mode now. Suddenly that building toward something, that going forward but always with an eye on the future is just noise".

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHHAHHAAH!

[ALoco]

REMEMBER SNAKES IF HENNING CALLS A PLAY AND CHAD.P DOESN'T LIKE IT HE WILL DO HIS OWN PLAY.

[MickFins]

Wow, very surprising. I am not sure that is the right move.... I would have gotten rid of Henning first! I think the he is the main issue.

[test]

they are trying to save their coaching jobs...

season's over folks...

noodle arm LOL

[pancanfinfin]

Henne just not getting it done...I respect this move from Sparano because he knows the firestorm it will create. What's disappointing is the when you look at the progress of Stafford, McCoy, even Gradkowski,Kolb and others Henne is not there. The talent is their in miami and its becoming apparent that Henne is not leading the team. Pennington can still save the season but this will not bode well for Henne.

[beerndrums]

Would someone please run over tortured for me.He loves the Jets but lives in Miami.What a clown.

[swept-the-jets]

I Hate That This Call Has Already Given Us 4 Losses. We Need To Have Done Rhis At The Start Of The Season. Like When Pennington Was Connecting With Our Recievers In The Pre Season.

[The Seer]

Mallett or Locker or Luck or Newton or Boise?

[FishFan13]

Give Thigpen a crack at it.....