It's Kellen Clemens' turn to see if he can turn around the season.

"Coach made it clear that I'm not the villain here," Pennington said today. "And I'm not the only one to blame for the lack of our success or our problems, but he did feel like Kellen deserved a chance."

Mangini's announcement today that he's going with Clemens as his starter for Sunday's game against Washington wasn't a huge surprise. It's a move fans and media have been suggesting for weeks as the Jets have struggled to a 1-7 start.

"I made this decision not based on singling out Chad for where we are, but based on the fact that I think Kellen has earned this opportunity," Mangini said. "I want to give him this opportunity. It's in no way an indication that Chad is solely responsible. We all are."

The 31-year-old Pennington, in his eighth season, has failed to move the offense effectively as the Jets have lost five straight and rank 30th in total offense; only Buffalo and San Francisco are worse.

"When your team is struggling, people look for answers and coaches have to look for answers and sometimes the first position that is looked at is the quarterback position," Pennington said. "I understand that."

Clemens, in his second season out of Oregon, replaced an ineffective Pennington late Sunday in the Jets' 13-3 loss to Buffalo. His entrance was cheered by those remaining at Giants Stadium, the same fans who booed Pennington when he failed to move the offense early in the game. Clemens was just 5-of-12 for 67 yards and two interceptions, but one of those came on a desperation toss as time expired.

"It's exciting to have the opportunity and I'm looking forward to the chance to play," Clemens said. "At the same time, there's a losing streak right now that this entire team needs to work hard to turn around."

After waiting until last Wednesday to keep Pennington as the starter, Mangini didn't need the extra time to make his choice this week. Mangini called each quarterback into his office separately and told them of his decision.

"He expressed, I guess, his confidence in me based on my preparation in weeks past and that was it," Clemens said.

Clemens has a much stronger arm than Pennington and is more mobile, perhaps able to add a few more elements to the offense than the veteran could. Although Mangini wouldn't commit to Clemens beyond this weekend, the 2006 second-round pick will be under center Sunday against Washington for his second NFL start.

"We're focused on the Redskins and he's going to be the starter for the Redskins game," Mangini said.

If Clemens holds on to the starting job, it's possible Pennington has taken his last snap with the Jets. He'll be a highly paid backup with a questionable arm after restructuring his contract in March 2006 to help relieve salary cap issues for the team, but he's due big money in the next few seasons. Pennington, whose contract runs through 2010, is due a $4.8 million base salary next season.

"It's not fair to my teammates in that locker room that I discuss my future with this organization or with another team," Pennington said. "They're working extremely hard to just get a win. We just want to get that winning feeling back."

Clemens' first start came in Week 2, when he stepped in for an injured Pennington and nearly led the Jets to a fourth-quarter comeback at Baltimore.

"Getting your first start out of the way I think is pretty big," Clemens said. "So now going into what will be my second start, I feel a lot better, a lot more confident."

The Jets have a bye week after Sunday, and it would seem highly unlikely that Mangini would go back to Pennington in what has now become an opportunity for the team to see what they have for the future.

"We're 1-7, so we're trying to do anything possible to get a win," wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery said. "He let us know that this wasn't the only change, so there will be other changes. It's the one that gets the most attention."

Pennington, one of the Jets' most respected and well-liked players, was having a disappointing season after overcoming consecutive rotator cuff operations and winning the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.

"By all medical accounts, I'm not supposed to be talking to you right now," Pennington said. "I shouldn't even be playing this game, so I take great pride in the fact that I've been able to overcome shoulder surgeries and play at a high level."

The second-most accurate passer in NFL history has thrown for 1,317 yards and nine touchdowns in seven games, but has seven interceptions — including three that sealed losses.