Jets' QB Controversy? No Way, Vinny Says By Randy Lange NJ Star-Ledger 12/25/05 In most other seasons, Herm Edwards' idea would be seen as the grand gesture of a quintessential players' coach. This season, Edwards' insistence at getting Vinny Testaverde some snaps in the Jets' final two games - "He will get to play between now and the end. I think it's important for a lot of reasons," he said - has become a mini-controversy in some Gang Green quarters. Why force Testaverde into any game, especially if Brooks Bollinger is playing well and the game is close? Why go out of your way to stroke the ego of a QB who has yet to throw a touchdown pass this season while personally turning over the ball 12 times in five games' exposure? Testaverde has heard the storm. And as the Jets readied themselves to play New England on Monday night, he wanted to calm the waters. "Just Herm mentioning it says a lot," said Testaverde, who has said in so many words that this season, his 19th in the NFL, is his last. "I'd love to get in there, don't get me wrong. But if it doesn't happen, I'm OK with that, too." Then he recalled a conversation he had with Edwards last week as the two passed in the corridors of Weeb Ewbank Hall. Testaverde's end of it went something like this: "Don't feel like you owe me anything, Herm. I just appreciate coming back here and playing for the Jets one last time. It's been a bonus for me, something I didn't expect. Don't feel you have to go the extra mile to play me or do something special for me." Testaverde said that as late as Friday that there had been no discussion about what the conditions would be for No. 16 to trot back on the field. "If I get in, I'll just be calling the plays we've got in the game plan," he said. "We haven't talked about it at all, scenarios, situations, even if it's going to happen this week or next week." Edwards' goal is to give the venerable Vinny a curtain call but also possibly to put him in position to throw one silly little TD pass. That would break a tie Testaverde holds with Fran Tarkenton (1961-78) and Earl Morrall (1956-72) in having at least one scoring pass in 18 consecutive seasons. None of this probably would matter, except that Bollinger has improved his play dramatically since his lackluster pro starting debut in Game 4 at Baltimore. Edwards was lukewarm to starting his No. 3 QB at first, but now offers weekly compliments. And last week, Bollinger was given the Dennis Byrd Award for most inspirational player in a vote of his teammates. And that's another reason Testaverde wanted to defuse any growing controversy. "I don't want to take away from the guys trying to win a game," he said. "Brooks is playing well. He deserves to be in there." In fact, Testaverde feels Bollinger is playing so well that he weighed in on another hot-button issue: Will Bollinger be in the running to be the Jets' No. 2 quarterback behind Chad Pennington next season? A team source said Bollinger is in the plans, but not as the first backup. "Brooks has played at a level that will open some eyes and give him some opportunities, whether it's to become a No. 2 or a starter, even," Testaverde said. "He's certainly come a long way from the Baltimore game. I think he'll have some opportunities, whether here or with another team. "He has a pretty good-looking future ahead of him, even if it's just in a backup spot, which I'm sure he'd be thrilled about." Testaverde acknowledged the Jets have a tough call on whether to elevate Bollinger to first-backup status if Pennington's right shoulder rehab is in any way an issue, or even if it isn't. "But at least you know what you've got now," he said. "Whatever scenario happens, whether as No. 2 or No. 3, you know Brooks can play." And no matter how well Testaverde has played, such an attitude would make it fitting if the classy QB from Long Island could take an uncontroversial final bow in victory mop-up duty against the Patriots or the Bills. As Edwards has said: "I just think it's the right thing to do."