DAVIE, Fla. — A text message Chad Pennington received at home provided the first hint of a promotion.

“Can you stop by please,” read the message from Dolphins coach Tony Sparano.

“That ‘please’ kind of threw me,” Pennington said later.

Starting quarterbacks enjoy deferential treatment, and Pennington is again No. 1. Sparano announced the change yesterday, pulling the plug on the Chad Henne experiment in favor of a 34-year-old coming off the latest operation on his right shoulder.

The Dolphins (4-4) play host to Tennessee on Sunday, when Pennington will make his first start since his season-ending shoulder injury in Week 3 last year.