How long do you guys think he will hold onto the starting job for?

Two major shoulder operations apparently aren't enough to pry the Jets' starting quarterback job away from Chad Pennington.

A team official with knowledge of the Jets' plans told the Newark Star-Ledger that Pennington has won New York's starting job. New coach Eric Mangini began camp with a four-way competition for the job, with Pennington competing against Patrick Ramsey, Kellen Clemens and Brooks Bollinger.

"We're surprised at the progress he's made," the official told the newspaper. "No one expected him to be this far along this early." The official told the Star-Ledger that Pennington surprised the organization with his arm strength and accuracy early on in camp.

Pennington was far from crisp when the Jets opened camp, but has made progress each day.

"I have been really happy with Chad's progress," Mangini told reporters Tuesday. "He has strung together some good practices."

Ramsey, the former Redskins starter, was acquired by the Jets in an offseason trade. Clemens, a rookie second-round pick out of Oregon, has the strongest arm of the bunch. Bollinger started when Pennington went down last season, but had a remote chance of winning the job.

After getting a $64 million deal as the franchise quarterback in 2004, nothing has gone right for Pennington. Once hailed as the face of the franchise, this could be his final season in a Jets uniform if he fails to win the starting job.

He initially tore his right rotator cuff during the 2004 season but played through it, and ended up having surgery in early 2005. But it is now apparent the Jets rushed him back so he could be ready for the start of last season. He only had six months between his surgery and the start of camp.

Pennington hurt his rotator cuff again in the third week of the season, and questions were asked about his durability.

Still, the seven-year veteran restructured his contract in the offseason to make it more salary-cap friendly in the hopes of getting his job back.