Hope is a very personal word with much meaning involved. Sports is great because it gives hope to everyone—hope for a winning season, a comeback for the ages, and a championship celebration.
Everyone has hope at the beginning of the season: fans, players, coaches, teams. But that hope dwindles away after an 0-3 start, a low preseason ranking in ESPN's polls, or the criticisms of fans before the team even takes the field.
After Tom Brady went down with the most shocking injury in recent memory, Peyton Manning and the Colts came slow out of the gates, and LT struggled through injury, the NFL has hope for somebody to step up and claim the MVP.
Without any prime time names available to win the award by default, the NFL can have a true MVP this season. In the truest sense of the term Most VALUABLE Player, the finalists should include Chad Pennington and Matt Ryan.
What?
Answer this question truthfully. Who in the world of sports had hope for Chad Pennington this season. Hope that he could win the starting job? Maybe. Hope that he could improve upon a 1-15 season? Maybe. But hope that he could lead the Dolphins to a first place tie with three weeks to go in the regular season!? Never.
With Miami Dolphins and Chad Pennington fanatics and experts excused, I cannot believe that anybody had hope for Chad Pennington this year.
Chad Pennington, exiled by his former team, the New York Jets, has revived his career and the hopes of the Miami Dolphins with a steady, unexpected, and inspiring season. Who would have thunk it!
In a season where nobody's numbers really jump out, and Pennington's certainly don't, the Dolphins are in pursuit of a comeback season for the century, a division title, and a run at the Super Bowl. Thanks to the play of Pennington, the Dolphins have the inside track to the AFC title with games remaining against the 49ers, Chiefs, and division-leading Jets.
On a team without a standout side receiver, Pennington has his second-best passer rating of his nine-year career at 93.7 and his most yards per game at 235.5. Pennington is also on pace to set his highest total of passing yards and lowest total of interceptions.
While these numbers do not scream MVP, Pennington's inspiring play does. Going into the season with not only a chip on his shoulder from being pushed out of New York for arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, and also an immense amount of criticism from experts and fans, Pennington has used his leadership to carry a 1-15 team to first place.
What?
Chad has taken criticism for his inability to throw the deep ball, spread the field, and make the big play his entire career.
''This offseason, I really took a look at the criticism I was receiving,'' Pennington said. 'I looked at it and saw, `Hey, some of it was probably true. How could I change that?' ''
So far this season, in the midst of fascinating efficiency, Pennington is quietly proving he also is capable of spreading the field more effectively than he did in the past. Against the Patriots, he averaged 11.3 yards on his 17 completions. Against the Chargers, he averaged 7.9 yards on 22 completions.
Big games, big throws, big wins has been the motto of Chad Pennington this season.
It would truly be a great story if Pennington is able to lead the Dolphins to a 3-0 finish and beat the Jets in week 17 to secure the team's first playoff appearance since 2001.
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