Props for Pennington

I'm not here to rant and rave about Pennington being snubbed from the AFC Pro Bowl team.  Do I think the man deserved a spot on the squad? Absolutely. But, do I understand why he was left off the roster? Of course.  Pennington's numbers — 3,453 yards to go with 17 TDs and 7 picks — aren't quite as flashy as the stats Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Jay Cutler have put up through the air this season, but they are certainly solid.  For the record, Manning has thrown for 3907 yards, 26 TDs and 12 picks, Favre has 3239/21/19 and Cutler has 4210/24/16 through 15 games this year. Sure, CP has more yards and 12 fewer completions to the other team than Favre, but remember, it's Brett Favre.  As long as Favre is healthy and somewhat productive, the man will be in the Pro Bowl.

Anyways, let's focus more on Pennington.  Pennington is currently throwing to the likes of the completely-unheard-of-for-non-Dolphins-fans-until-a-few-weeks-ago Davone Bess, the may-never-live-up-to-his-potential Tedd Ginn, and a couple decent tight ends in David Martin and Anthony Fasano.  And, before Greg Camarillo was hurt a few weeks ago, he was Pennington's most reliable target.  Besides the game-winning overtime grab against the Ravens last year, has anybody in the NFL ever heard of Greg Camarillo? Maybe, but probably not.  

Knowing this, doesn't Pennington's 96.4 passer rating — which is second in the entire league right now, by the way — look even sweeter. And, he's doing it with only what I'd call a decent running game this year.  The offensive line's guard-by-committee approach has worked out well, but Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are only averaging 4.2 and 4.1 yards per carry on the year.  While those numbers — to go with 10 rushing TDs for Brown and four more for the resurrected Williams — are solid, they aren't dominant.  

So, despite the fact that Pennington is throwing to a bunch of guys who were nobody's before the year began — and, I didn't even mention big Ernest Wilford, who was supposed to be the perfect compliment to the speedy Ginn this year but has only pulled in three passes for 25 yards on the season — Pennington's numbers are still as solid as almost anyone in the league. And, perhaps the most overlooked stat Pennington has provided the Fins with this year, 10 wins.  Who saw 10 wins — and, cross your fingers, maybe even 11 after Sunday — coming just one year after the franchise's most embarrassing year ever.  Talent-wise, this roster isn't all that much better than last year's, but CP is finding a way to move the chains, put points on the board and win football games.