JETS NOTES
Chad Pennington yesterday underwent what the Jets termed “successful” surgery on the partially-torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
The arthroscopic procedure was conducted by shoulder specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
“As per the original diagnosis from Dr. (Elliott) Pellman and Dr. (Kenneth) Montgomery (the Jets’ doctors), there were no surprises found during the operative procedures performed in the right shoulder of Chad Pennington,” Herman Edwards said yesterday in a statement. “According to the report Dr. Andrews gave to Dr. Pellman, the operation was a success.
“Both physicians are cautiously optimistic that Chad will be ready for the beginning of training camp.”
Pennington now faces three to four weeks of inactivity with the arm in a sling as he lets the shoulder heal before he can then begin three to four months of range-of-motion physical therapy to rehabilitate it.
That schedule should allow Pennington to begin throwing again sometime as early as late June and early July.
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Edwards yesterday issued a statement regarding Quincy Carter, who’s reportedly checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for at least the third time in his NFL career.
Carter, who was signed by the Jets in preseason as backup QB insurance, helped lead the Jets to a 2-1 record in his three starts with Pennington sidelined with his shoulder injury. In the week leading up to the Jets’ playoff game in Pittsburgh, he was excused from the team to be with his ailing mother in Georgia and never made it to the game against the Steelers.
On Sunday, an ESPN report surfaced saying that Carter had a substance abuse relapse and had checked himself back into rehab.
“Some of the rumors surrounding this situation deal with personal and confidential matters that we cannot and should not discuss,” Edwards said in a statement. “Quincy’s representatives assure us that Quincy is doing well. However, what we can say is that as a New York Jet, Quincy has done everything and more that was asked of him, he came to work early, stayed late, and exhibited good character the entire time.”
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The Jets yesterday made it official that they’ve hired Jeremy Bates as the team’s quarterbacks coach and they promoted Pep Hamilton to wide receivers coach.
Bates, 28, joins the Jets after having served the past three seasons with the Buccaneers first as the assistant quarterbacks coach and later as the offensive quality control coach.
Bates’ father, Jim, was named the defensive coordinator of the Packers on Jan. 24 after serving as the interim head coach of the Dolphins after Dave Wannstedt was fired.
Hamilton, 30, is entering his third season with the Jets and will work with the Jets’ receiving corps.
