New York Jets' first-rounders pumped up for NFL debuts
Posted on Friday, September 05 @ 21:32:25 CDT by Raulken |
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FLORHAM PARK, NJ - Vernon Gholston expects to get a good night's sleep before his first real NFL game. Sure, the New York Jets' rookie linebacker is excited and nervous about his debut against the Dolphins, but that doesn't mean he'll be staring at the...
 By STEVEN WINE The Associated Press Wednesday, September 3, 2008; 6:50 PM DAVIE, Fla. -- Chad Pennington fondly recalls the first game of his NFL career, even though he didn't play. He was the third-string quarterback for the New York Jets, who beat the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre. "My first opening day," Pennington said Wednesday. "Having a chance to go to Lambeau Field for the first time, that was unbelievable. I'll never forget it, even though I wasn't even playing. The emotions were unbelievable. It was really fun." Eight years later, Pennington prepares for another Jets opener Sunday, and again the opposing quarterback will be Favre. But this time Pennington will start for his new team, the Miami Dolphins, after being replaced in New York by Favre, who left Green Bay after 16 seasons and a summer soap opera. "What a storyline," Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday said. There are other juicy elements to help reinvigorate the once-fervid Jets-Dolphins rivalry. A new era begins for the Dolphins under the regime led by former Jets coach Bill Parcells. Miami's Tony Sparano makes his debut as an NFL head coach against Parcells protege Eric Mangini. The game introduces the top overall pick in this year's draft, Dolphins tackle Jake Long. That's why the opener is generating a lot of buzz for two teams who went a combined 5-27 last year. Both believe they'll be better, in part because of the...
Click here to read the content (Source Washington Post)
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