Transcripts of Chad Pennington's and Kellen Clemens' interviews with reporters after today's OTA practice:
QB CHAD PENNINGTON
On the quarterback competition …
We’re out here working hard. If you were here in 2006, then you know what the deal is. It’s nothing new. Nothing is surprising. I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to have the opportunity to play football and lead this team.
On if he embraces the competition …
I embrace playing the game of football. I enjoy playing the game. I’ve enjoyed being here the last eight years. I’m going to enjoy this year, too, because it’s a blessing, an opportunity. Not a lot of people get a chance to play this game at this level. I’m trying to take advantage of every moment.
On if he’s surprised to still be in New York …
No, not really. You know what? This is the place for me to be. I feel good about my situation and comfortable with how I’m approaching the situation and how I’m preparing so I can be a better quarterback every day.
On if he approached the Jets this off-season about a possible trade …
Everyone knows there were discussions at the combine. After everything is said and done, this is the best place for me to be. Looking at the situation, I feel good about it. I feel really good about how I prepared this off-season. I really tried to take a look at some things, physically and mentally, to get better and to become a better quarterback so I can take new steps.
On if he was hoping to be moved at the combine …
Not necessarily. As a player, you always want to know where you stand. As long as you get a truthful answer, you can deal with it. Whether you agree or disagree, it doesn’t matter. That’s what you always look for as a player: Just let me know where I stand and we’ll take it from there.
On if he said ‘This is my team’ this morning …
Anytime you step out on the field or in between the white lines as a quarterback, that is your attitude. Your attitude is that you’re the leader. When you’re under center, you have to lead. You have to direct. You have to make sure things are going in the right direction. That never changes.
On the comparisons to the quarterback competition in 2006 …
I don’t know what coach has said about all four of us, but everyone knows it’s Kellen [Clemens] and I competing. Maybe it’s the difference between four and two, I don’t know. There’s so many similarities and both of us have been through it. Really, truly, when you think about it, there’s no difference than in 2006. As players across the board in this league, you’ve got to come to work and come to play every day. They’re always looking to find a better guy and improve the organization. You have to make sure you’re doing everything to improve as well.
On the Jets’ off-season acquisitions …
I’m excited with all of our new additions, both through free agency and the draft. We’re all excited to have the new guys here. It’s always a challenge to learn how to communicate and get to know the guys and make them feel welcome and comfortable, and then translate that to the field to where you can communicate and make sure you’re on the same page.
On if it’s demeaning for a QB with as many wins as him to battle for a job …
There’s always decisions made, and as a professional you can agree or disagree, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s how you approach the situation and look at it as an opportunity. It’s another opportunity for me to be out on the field and produce and help us win. It’s easy to fall into that trap. I think that trap is very counterproductive and can really lead you in the wrong direction.
On how he views his standing in the organization …
Well, that we’re competing for the job. Competition, that’s the understanding. The quarterback’s position is open and they haven’t made any decisions. That’s where we both stand.
On how the starter will be decided …
It’s Coach’s decision. What I can do as a player is to go out there and perform and do like I’ve always done, prepare the right way, work extremely hard and play well. After that, it’s out of my hands, it’s out of my control. Whatever happens, happens.
On if he can handle being a backup …
It’s just not in my thought process. I think anytime you think about that, you’re already there. My thought process right now is to continue to come out here and do things that I need to do to get better and basically make our team better, make our offense better. I feel pretty good. I feel like I’ve been making strides physically and working on some things in the off-season to become a better physical quarterback, a better passer and thrower. Things are looking good.
On the team’s stance that Clemens is the QB of the future …
I think that Coach is interested in one thing, and that’s winning, period. After you come off a 4-12 season, that’s all you can think about. That’s what’s going to dictate his decision. That’s what I think is going to dictate this organization to do what’s best to win. Regardless of what I think or what anybody thinks, it boils down to decisions that [Eric Mangini] has to make as head coach and what direction they want to go in.
On if there’s one aspect of his game that needs to improve for him to win the job …
What I really tried to look at this off-season and study is how to be more consistent with down-the-field throws and doing those types of things. I’ve got the ability, and I’ve shown I’ve got the ability. It’s just being more consistent with that. Making good decisions, that’s what it’s about. When you have the chance to take advantage of an opportunity, whether it’s in the red zone or they tell you to take advantage of it. Other than that, you move the chains and keep the defense off the field and play good, solid, consistent football.
On the additions to the offensive line …
There’s no secret that these guys [Alan Faneca and Damien Woody] are experienced. They have seen a lot of football and have been very successful in their careers playing on the offensive line. We have a really good mix of veterans and young players where our young players can really learn from these veterans coming in that we brought in. They’ve seen a lot of football, they’ve been successful and they know how to play the game.
On how much better he can player behind the new line …
When you’re improved all across the board, it helps everybody. This is such a team game that when everyone has improved, including yourself, you expect improvement as a team. That’s what we’re focused on, coming out here every day and taking a step, maybe a small step, each day. If they’re smaller steps, build on each other and lead to bigger goals and bigger accomplishments.
