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I will admit that I never thought these words would roll off of my tongue unless I was making a cheap joke, or instigating an angry response from Jets supporters. Not only will I say this, but I can now say it with confidence: Chad Pennington never should have been replaced in NJ by Brett Favre.

Favre was pegged as the unquestioned savior of NY/NJ, and the heir to the throne vacated by the charismatic and flirtatious (see: Suzy Kolber) Joe Namath in the hearts of every Jets fan. In a classic 'you don't know what you got till it's gone' scenario, Jets fans are slouched down in their recliners, watching INT after INT pile up for the league's leader in that category.

Meanwhile, down in Miami, Chad has ironically teamed up with the great Bill Parcells to turn a 1-15 nightmare into a 9-5 mistake-free model of consistency. Even more ironic, it is the same 1-15 record that Parcells inherited for these very Jets, immediately turning embarrassment into results. Leading the league in fewest turnovers by a wide margin, the Dolphins are an East Rutherford win away from crushing the Jets season of rejuvenation.  East Rutherford is of course a place all too familiar to the new Dolphins signal-caller. 

This is not just a 1 win team of a year ago.  This is a team that traded their best defensive player, best WR, and let a legend in Zach Thomas leap into Jerry Jones' loving arms back in Texas where he starred in college. Pennington has displayed leadership, courage, and above all else restored a confidence that sank deeper than the Titanic in 2007.

Pennington not only has limited mistakes (throwing a microscopic six INTs thus far), but has also thrown for nearly 200 more yards than Favre. This may or may not surprise you, as both teams commit heavily to the run, whether it be Miami's wildcat formation or the Jets 1-2 punch of Jones and Washington.

These next stats, however, will most likely surprise you as much as they did me. Chad Pennington, chased out of town for his inability to throw the deep ball to Coles and Cotchery and stretch the field, has completed only 1 fewer pass beyond 20 yards than Favre. Furthermore, Favre has attempted 56 MORE passes than Pennington either behind the line of scrimmage or less than ten yards downfield. Finally, Pennington has completed three pass plays over 60 yards while Favre has completed zero such passes.

This does not imply that Pennington has a better arm than Favre, or is more of a downfield threat. What it does prove is that the perception of Favre's ability to open up the Jets offense to new and never before seen levels is clearly overblown.  Favre is actually performing at a comparable level to Pennington in downfield throws, while generating 11 more turnovers in doing so.

Most striking and alarming of all are the words out of the immortal Favre's mouth himself, voicing his own concerns in admitting to the Star-Ledger that "...maybe I don't have the arm I once had. I don't know." This statement should ring loudly in the heads of Jets fan that seemingly drove Pennington to the airport themselves to get him out of town.

Perhaps the fairy tale is over, or perhaps Favre will produce one more story to tell our grandchildren. Surprisingly, we may not be having this discussion of playoff uncertainty if the underappreciated Pennington was still roaming the Meadowlands.