Odd man out: Jets release Pennington
Chad Pennington quickly became the odd man out once Brett Favre joined the New York Jets.
Pennington was released yesterday, ending the quarterback's eight-year, injury-plagued career with the Jets. He was expected to find a new home soon: Minnesota and Miami were mentioned as possible destinations.
"It's a bittersweet moment for us," Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said.
"I have all the respect in the world for Chad as a person and a player. He gave his heart and soul to this organization for a long, long time. I really appreciate everything he has done."
A first-round pick in 2000, Pennington became the popular face of the franchise and arrived in camp competing with Kellen Clemens for the starting job.
The Jets jettisoned Pennington to clear salary cap space once they got Favre from Green Bay for a conditional draft pick.
The 32-year-old Pennington had three years, plus a team option year, remaining on his contract. He was due $4.8 million this season and his salary cap figure is $7.8 million.
Pennington ranks first in NFL history among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts with a 65.6 completion percentage.
Browns fall short
Favre's big-play ability rubbed off on the Jets, who scored three long touchdowns in a 24-20 win over the Browns as their new star quarterback watched from the sideline in Cleveland.
Dwight Lowery returned a punt 62 yards to score with 10:02 left to cap New York's comeback from a 10-point deficit. Lowery and Hank Poteat both intercepted passes by Ken Dorsey in the final four minutes to preserve the lead. The news wasn't all good for New York. Tight end A.J. Schable was taken from the field on a stretcher after a head-to-head hit while trying to make a tackle on a kickoff return by the Browns early in the fourth quarter.
Giants lose on road
With Eli Manning on the bench and Super Bowl heroes David Tyree and Plaxico Burress back home, David Carr and the Giants couldn't come from behind in a 13-10 exhibition loss to the Detroit Lions . . . Back from a broken foot, Larry Johnson ran for a touchdown on the opening drive and Brodie Croyle made the most of his limited time to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a 24-20 victory over the Bears in Chicago . . . Drew Brees was 6 for 7 for 40 yards and a touchdown in his lone series in the shorthanded New Orleans Saints' 24-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.
Injury report
Rookie running back Ryan Torain is expected to miss about three months after breaking a bone in his left elbow. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan announced in Englewood, Colo., that Torain would need surgery . . . Chicago first-round draft pick Chris Williams had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back, team spokesman Scott Hagel said . . . Browns rookie linebacker Beau Bell had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage from behind his right kneecap. He is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks.
