I should clarify a misconception: Pennington had no desire to return simply to serve as mentor to Henne. He's coming back to play football.
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These guys are friends, by all means, but it's not the type of teacher-student relationship many have made it out to be.

PALM BEACH GARDENS - Chad Henne isn't scared of competition, and he doesn't care if it comes from the mentor he replaced as the Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback.

In fact, put Henne down as an influential endorser, pushing for the Dolphins to re-sign Chad Pennington.

"I'd love it. I love Chad to death," Henne said when asked about Pennington possibly returning to the Dolphins. "Whatever happens, happens. I learned so much from him. If he's with us, I'll learn even more. It's a great opportunity if he comes back. We'll welcome him back."

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If we want to compete I'm definitely up for the competition," said Henne, who participated in the team's Fins-Cup Pro Am golf tournament on Monday. "Anywhere you go you're going to have to compete for the job. It'd be a great one-two combo."

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But Pennington's priority entering his 11th season in the NFL is to remain a starter, and it's possible teams such as St. Louis, Arizona and Jacksonville will grant him an opportunity to compete for that role if he proves his arm is up to it. The Dolphins would jump to the top of that list if they also make it an open competition.

According to a team source, the Dolphins' main hesitancy with Pennington involves "the shadow his presence would present." Pennington has "a strong command" of the team, which he led to a 11-5 record and the playoffs in 2008, and it could create a locker room divide if Henne struggles.

However, they also know Pennington's leadership, experience, and intellect are all intangibles that would be beneficial to the team and Henne. Especially considering the front office identified a leadership void as one of the reasons the season ended with a disappointing three-game losing streak.

Henne, a four-year starter and team captain at Michigan, admits one of his goals is to become a better leader. His first step was successfully lobbying some of his teammates to begin their offseason conditioning program on Monday, a few weeks early.

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Against a widespread belief that Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington's two-year tenure in Miami is over, the two-time NFL comeback player of the year isn't ready to say the same. Pennington wants to stay in South Florida.

The veteran has decided to make it his priority to stay with the Dolphins, even if it means backing up quarterback Chad Henne, two sources said this week. The Dolphins are willing to entertain the possibility under some circumstances.

Pennington, who underwent his most recent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on Oct. 1, must prove strong enough to make some of the most difficult throws in football. Specifically, the team wants to see Pennington make a 15-yard out route before the end of February, one source said.

Such a route calls for the wide receiver to run 15 yards and make a 90-degree cut toward the far sideline. It is a dangerous pass that requires power and distance - two qualities that were not often Pennington's strong suits.

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The Dolphins, meanwhile, continue to have faith in Henne as their starter, although coach Tony Sparano was not willing to say at the end of the most recent season that Henne would automatically start in 2010.

Although it has been widely reported that Pennington agreed to a one-year contract with the Dolphins worth $2.5 million with a "trade bonus" of $1.515 million if the team trades him, it has not been widely circulated (that I've seen) what happens if Pennington sets training camp on fire at the same time Chad Henne struggles.

The contract Pennington agreed stipulates that if Pennington starts over Henne, the veteran gets a salary of $5.75 million.

The number isn't what's important. What is important is that Pennington has agreed to be the backup and would accept that role. But, being a competitor, he is not simply going to come to camp and simply lay down -- at least not once his arm starts feeling good.

Pennington will want to be the best quarterback he can be.

And as the Dolphins gave Pennington the starter's clause in the contract, they obviously see the possibility (however small) that he might win the starting job at some point (either through competition or injury to Henne) and would, therefore, merit a higher salary.

So while both Pennington and the Dolphins have agreed his stated role will be the backup role, both also recognize there is a chance he 1. could be traded or 2. could be the starter.

All this brings back memories of Strock and Marino.
Look how that worked out. I say it's a win win for us.

The Pennington contract covers all the bases

Although it has been widely reported that Pennington agreed to a one-year contract with the Dolphins worth $2.5 million with a "trade bonus" of $1.515 million if the team trades him, it has not been widely circulated (that I've seen) what happens if Pennington sets training camp on fire at the same time Chad Henne struggles.

The contract Pennington agreed stipulates that if Pennington starts over Henne, the veteran gets a salary of $5.75 million.

The number isn't what's important. What is important is that Pennington has agreed to be the backup and would accept that role. But, being a competitor, he is not simply going to come to camp and simply lay down -- at least not once his arm starts feeling good.

Pennington will want to be the best quarterback he can be.

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[Update: I'm told Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis suffered a wrist injury toward the end of the 2009 season and spent several weeks in a cast afterward. It is unclear if the injury required surgery. Davis has since progressed enough to have the cast removed and is now rehabilitating. He could be limited initially at the start of the team's conditioning program but should be 100 percent for minicamps and training camp.]