Maybe it's a crazy idea, but why haven't the Miami Dolphins at least called Chad Pennington? He's demonstrated an ability to quickly come in to a team, learn the system, and perform at a high level. He's familiar with the players and (most of the) coaches for the team, and he's known to the fans.
I'm not saying he is the answer, and I don't know what the status of his shoulder - or the ACL he tore in March - is, but couldn't the Dolphins at least take a shot at bringing him back to the team?
Pennington gave the Miami Dolphins, and their fans, the greatest season the team has known, since at least the Marino era. After the 1-15 2007 season, Pennington fell out of New York and landed in South Beach. With his arrival, the Dolphins tied the NFL record for largest single season turn around, "moving the hyphen" to finish 11-5 the next year. Would "CP10" have that magic in him again? Probably not. But, he could at least inspire hope, something the team, and the fans, are sorely missing.
In his three years in Miami, Pennington claimed a 12-8 record, with a 67.6 completion percentage, throwing for 4085 yards. He had 20 touchdowns and 9 interceptions, racking up a 94.5 quarterback rating.
The question, of course, is the status of Pennington's shoulder and knee. He left the NFL for this season, planning on spending the year as a Fox Sports analyst, letting his surgically repaired joints heal. I know that an ACL is typically a year to heal, but Pennington has returned from multiple reconstructions of his shoulder, when no one said he could. The Dolphins don't need a runner - they need a passer.
Free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens had similar surgery about the same time as Pennington, and said yesterday he could be ready to go in "a month or less." Could Pennington be on a similar recovery path?
And, if Dan Marino can play for years on knees being held together by braces and prayers, a passer with injured knees could succeed.
CP10 could be that guy.
But then again, with this offensive line, maybe it's too risky for Pennington.
Of course, this is all speculation and I doubt Pennington is available, or ready to come back to the NFL, but when you are looking at Brodie Croyle and Trent Edwards, is Chad Pennington that much further down the list?