(Sportsbooks) - Last year when Jets quarterback Chad Pennington took the New York media to task for what he considered unfair treatment, explaining to them that it was a privilege just to cover the team, I thought he might be going out of his mind.
However, after his scintillating six-fumble performance in the Jets' 27-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, I may have to rethink my position. He was right, it was a privilege to sit and watch him perform yesterday.
Pennington, playing his first game since offseason shoulder surgery, was absolutely abysmal against the Chiefs, as he set a franchise-record for fumbles, while losing two of them, and tossed a back-breaking interception midway through the second quarter. He finished the day 21-of-34 for 264 yards and an interception.
"That's as tough as it gets," Curtis Martin said. "It's more than tough...it's embarrassing. I think we're all ashamed at the way we played today. That's the most embarrassed I've felt since I've been here."
In fairness to Pennington, though, three of the fumbles were on the snap from center Kevin Mawae, including two in the shotgun - a formation Pennington had not used under former offensive coordinator Paul Hackett.
"Neither one of us has been in the shotgun for four years, so something like this happens. I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised," said Pennington.
Mawae, who has been elected to six consecutive Pro Bowls, did not shy away from the blame after the game.
"Personally, this was probably the worst game I've had in about 10 years - since I was maybe a second-year player," Mawae said. "Personally and individually, I'm extremely disappointed. Had we won the game, I did absolutely nothing to help us."
"For whatever reason, I just choked today."
It wasn't just the offense. Donnie Henderson's defense, which was up near the top of the league last season, did not show up either. Kansas City's two- headed running attack of Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson had its way with Gang Green, combining for 195 yards and three scores.
"They did a good job running the ball on us, getting on the edge," Jets coach Herman Edwards said. "When they run the ball the way they did - they ran for almost 200 yards - you're not going to win the game, especially on the road."
It was just a horrific start for a team that was picked by just about everyone to make the playoffs and by some people to even challenge the New England Patriots for the AFC East crown.
But, ever the optimist, Edwards put a positive spin on the contest.
"The good thing is that it's the first game of the season and we have 15 more," Edwards added. "We have to learn from it; we have to grow from it. We have to get better and it starts next week. We have to learn from this and move on."
TEMPERS FLARE
Things got so bad for the Jets on Sunday that a fight actually broke out on the sidelines between defensive lineman James Reed and linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was sporting a fat lip after the game.
It was nothing, just a heated conversation, tempers flaring," Vilma said. "It was a little frustration, that's all it was. We're fine now."
Maybe the Jets should have showed some of that fight on the field.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
Martin, who became the oldest player in NFL history to win the rushing title last season, could never get it going and finished with just 57 yards on 20 carries - a far cry from his 196-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals to kick off last season.
UP NEXT
The Jets get their AFC East slate going this week when they face the Miami Dolphins in their home opener at the Meadowlands. Last year the Jets swept their two meetings with Miami, but the Dolphins, under new head coach Nick Saban, won in their season opener against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
