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December 16, 2007

Transcript: Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens' postgame press conference

Can you talk about when you got hit?
We had a pass called with three wide receivers to the left. [I] dropped back, there was a little bit of pressure, a little bit of penetration, and instead of risking a sack I threw it away. The defender hit my right arm as I was throwing and then landed on me as when we went to the ground.

How painful was that?
It wasn’t anything immediate -- really just some pain when I got back to sideline and I started visiting with doctors from there.

Could you have come back into the game?
It was the coach’s decision on whether or not I came back, so Coach made the decision that he was going to let Chad [Pennington] roll, and I respect that decision.

Were you disappointed or upset?
I was still in the locker room when Chad went in. I support Chad just as he has supported me. It’s unfortunate in the grander picture that with how close this game was we weren’t able to come away with a win.

Did you come back to watch the game on the sideline?
Yeah, I was on the sideline. I was on the sideline for most of the second quarter and the whole second half.

Were you physically able to return?
Coach made the decision that he was going to stick with Chad, and as I mentioned, we all respect that decision. I did my best to support Chad.

What type of injury is it?
It’s being called a rib injury.

Can you talk about Pennington’s game?
Chad Pennington is a professional. He works hard, he obviously has a lot of experience and he’s a good quarterback. You expect nothing less than from Chad than to be prepared, and then when a situation like this comes up for him to have the success that he did.

How much pain are you in now?
I can feel it.

As you watched, do you feel like you guys let this one get away?
I think we definitely had an opportunity to win the game. We were in it throughout. It’s frustrating to come in here and play a good football game against a good football team in some pretty difficult conditions. The guys played hard and gave great effort and it is frustrating.

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