The Legend hype of Chad Henne and that big arm of his. Chad Henne has a big arm. Yes, we heard. It is mind boggling to me that every publication covering this story can’t stop talking about that “big arm” of Chad Henne’s, many of which are even including it in the headline. Palm Beach Post Staff Writer, Edgar Thompson, wrote the column “Chad Henne faces big challenges, but he’ll give the Miami Dolphins a big arm” and “Chad Henne has strong arm but shouldn’t be given free rein” by Ethan J. Skolnick of the Sun Sentinel Times. This just in: So did Ryan Leaf. So did Jeff George. I think we all know how those stories ended. Chad Henne has a big arm holds about as much water as Ted Ginn sure is fast. See where I’m going with this? Not that either of those two talented writers that I frequently read are making any grandiose claims but the point being that since the days of Dan Marino Dolfans have been praying to the football gods for the next great quarterback to lead us to the promised land. The bigger our inflated expectations become, the bigger the unfair burden on Henne becomes.
Chad Pennington is gone for the season with a separated shoulder to his already twice surgically repaired throwing shoulder and not only is his future with the Dolphins in jeopardy but his entire career hangs in the balance. As unfortunate as this news is, life in the NFL must go on. Now his protégé is thrown into the spotlight trying to salvage the season after a tough 0-3 start. Make no mistake about it, Miami has high hopes for Henne. The kingdom was going to be his soon enough, however, soon enough wasn’t supposed to be until late this year when Miami had played themselves out of the playoff picture or next season after having 2 solid years of absorbing every detail possible from Pennington. His time is here, however premature it may or may not be. With that, we as fans have to be prepared for the inevitable growing pains that are certain to come and not expect too much from him beyond what you would expect from any young quarterback. He will make mistakes, he will throw interceptions, he will need to learn to read and react to blitzes, stunts, coverages and every other tricky nuance that defensive coordinators are licking their chops to throw at him, he will hold the ball too long, he will get rid of it too early, he will have happy feet, he will telegraph passes and he will probably even line up under guard at some point but as long as he learns from each mistake and continues to grow from one day to the next, as long as he displays poise and gets back up after taking a sack and brushes himself off unphased and walks back into the huddle calling the next play confidently and proving to his teammates that he has fire in his eyes to lead them and do everything in his power to be the best quarterback in this league he can be then that’s all we can ask for. Everything else that we “hope” he becomes will come in due time but these stages are the most crucial of his young career and if we believe in hi and support him he very well meet our lofty expectations. It is important that we not use that exciting year in 1983 when Marino was unveiled as the barometer in which to judge Henne. As far as I’m concerned that’s an unfair comparison for any quarterback to ever walk the planet. There is only one Dan Marino.
Henne will be making his first NFL start Sunday at home versus the Buffalo Bills. Hey! Didn’t Dan Marino make his first NFL start at home versus the Buffalo Bills? Just saying. Then again, Ted Ginn sure is fast.
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