Forget, for a moment, the painful schedule that tells us this Dolphins team can be far better than last year and still have a worse record.

Let's start this season recognizing not the strenuous, but the refreshing.

For the first time since Dan Marino, a Dolphins season can begin without any legitimate concerns about the quarterback position. Not that there won't be concerns voiced. This is, after all, a skeptical football town that has to see consistency before it's convinced to back off.

But there shouldn't be any worries. And it's an awfully comforting feeling, one for which we can thank Chad Pennington.

There still are, of course, those who can't wait for Chad Henne and his rifle of an arm to take over the most important position in sports before he's ready. But those people can't appreciate what they already have.

How many other teams would want the MVP runner-up from the previous season preparing to lead them into a season? The only other quarterback in the top five of the voting was Peyton Manning, the winner, and you can bet not a soul in Indianapolis is cheering for a backup to emerge there.

Pennington wasn't supposed to be the savior -- he was just supposed to be an upgrade from John Beck -- but he turned out to be one anyway. He threw just seven interceptions to his 19 touchdown passes. He stabilized an offense that did not feature a No. 1 receiver and carried the team to a 9-1 record down the stretch of a division title season. He did all of that with only a few weeks of preparation after the Jets waived him in favor of Brett Favre.

And he comes into this season with an entire offseason of preparation and, supposedly, an upgraded group around him.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

What possibly could make you more comfortable entering this season? A No. 13 resurrection, maybe. Other than that, this is as encouraging as it gets. Especially around here, where the closest things we have experienced was when Miami acquired Daunte Culpepper coming off serious knee surgery, crossing our fingers the whole time that the injury wasn't nearly as damaging as it turned out to be.

If concerns remain about Pennington's supposed injury history, it really boils down to a shoulder injury that took two surgeries to fully repair, effectively costing him two seasons. That, and a dreaded and entirely random high ankle sprain, are the pains in Pennington's past. Those aren't exactly potential recurring injuries. Not after he tweaked his throwing motion to avoid further shoulder problems.

But even if Pennington can't recreate the magic that was last season -- probably his most impressive as a pro -- can we at least appreciate the person we're watching at that highlighted position?

Pennington is the anti-Favre. And in this context, that is high praise.

Favre is the quarterback who wouldn't play the game if he couldn't zing the ball faster than 90 percent of the quarterbacks in the league.

Pennington is the quarterback who adjusted to a weaker arm and learned to dominate the game without a laser at his disposal.

Favre is the player who so despises hard work he will do anything to avoid training camp.

Pennington is the player who so badly wants to perfect his craft he appreciates any extra time he can get.

Favre is the diva still living off his credentials and creates tension in his own locker room just by showing up.

A TRUE LEADER

Pennington is the leader who has attempted to connect with his receivers since Day One, which undoubtedly has helped in the quick progression of players such as Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess, and the unity of the offense.

Yes, without 11 victories last season, a lot of those Pennington qualities probably are overlooked, replaced with concern about a noodle arm and lack of mobility.

But those qualities were in large part responsible for Miami's 11 victories last season. And those same qualities, that same meticulous preparation that matches, if not exceeds, the work of his coaching staff, will make the supposedly impossible schedule a lot less arduous for the Dolphins.

Regardless of how talented the opposition, you know Pennington will be prepared to make it a fight.

You can't help but be at ease knowing that. And it has been a while since you felt that way.

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