11/28 — It's been several weeks since Chad Pennington gave up his high profile as the Jets' starting QB and thus his soapbox at two news conferences every week, one on Wednesday and one after that week's game.

But Pennington is still around and he checked in with several Jets reporters in the hallway outside the locker room today to talk about his new role, one he hasn't known when healthy since before he took the Jets' offensive reins for Game 5 in 2002.

"It's different," Pennington said. "It's much different when the challenge is not directly out in front of you. My preparation is the same as far as my effort, but it has changed as far as the sequence of things I do during the week. Right now [midweek] I'm focused more on physical preparation. Toward the end of the week I pick up my mental preparation. 'Different' would be the right word."

Another word he would use to describe his situation?

"Benched," he said with a laugh. "I guess that'd be a harsh word for it in a loving way."

Chad was serious about his upbeat approach to his backup status. He's not going to pretend he wasn't shown the sideline after Game 8 against Buffalo, nor that he's content about it. But this eighth-year pro and son of a football coach is not going to let his new position on the 2-9 Jets affect what he knows he has to do for this team each week for the rest of the season.

"I don't feel vindicated. I don't wish any ill will upon anybody," he said of the offense's performance remaining basically unchanged under Kellen Clemens the last three games from its rankings under Pennington in seven of the first eight games. "The state of our team has been consistent throughout the season. Inconsistent, that'd be the word, not being able to capitalize on turning plays into winning games. Last year we did that. This year we haven't."

He also said he didn't necessarily feel unappreciated by Jets fans, saying he's received a lot of support from "fans on the street" over "how I play the game and represent myself and my sport."

And that came through again as the reporters asked those inevitable questions every time they chat with him now, about his future: What does he think will happen next year? Does he want to be a starter again? Would he start here next year with the Jets if that were the case? Each question was parried with characteristic Pennington poise.

"There'll be all kinds of different scenarios and avenues that I'll have to look at," he said. "When that time comes, I'll sit down with my wife and family and decide what's best. Right now I'll just put that aside." Dwelling on such matters at this time of year, he said, "takes away from me being a good teammate."

"I see myself as a starter, helping a football team win," he said in general. When asked point-blank if he wanted to be the starter for the Jets again, he didn't declare unequivocally one way or the other.

"Anytime you have an opportunity to be a starter in this league, no matter where it is, as a competitor you want to be the guy," he said. "There's no other feeling like it, to step in the huddle and have those 10 other guys look at you and wait for you to lead them."

Some would like to have us think there's nothing left for these Jets to play for, but that's just flat-out untrue. Maybe there's nothing they can play for that certain fans want at this moment, but there are pride, competitive validation, playing for teammates, personal improvement.

For all those reasons, it's good to have No. 10 on the Jets, no matter for how much longer, no matter in what role.

Bubble Warming

The Jets have spent more time in their practice facility this season than many players thought possible (about five practices). But Wednesday's practice wasn't exactly a walk in an air-conditioned park. The Green & White's bubble had the temperature cranked up just a bit from the 50-degree air outside, to perhaps the upper 70s.

That's because the Miami weather on Sunday is expected to be sunny and 81 degrees for the game against the Dolphins.