Testaverde Goes Around NFL Block Once Again By Tony Grossi Cleveland Plain Dealer Reporter 9/16/04 It's hard to believe Vinny Testaverde is 40 years old and starting at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Coach Butch Davis referred to him Wednesday as "a real talented kid." Safety Earl Little said he couldn't help noticing on the coaches scouting report that Testaverde was in his 18th NFL campaign. "My God, I've got nieces 18 years old," Little exclaimed. Jeff Garcia, the Browns' oldest player at 34, said, "At 40, I don't know if I'll still be able to scratch and claw the way that I do today. I give him tremendous credit for where he is today playing the game." Testaverde may be 40, but the NFL good life for him really began at 30. That's when he escaped the high expectations that buried him as an underachiever with Tampa Bay, a failed No. 1 overall draft pick. Leaving Tampa for Cleveland was the dawn of a new career for Testaverde. With Tampa, he had a quarterback rating of 64.4. Since then, he's a respectable 81.5. He made two playoff appearances after Tampa and was voted two times to the Pro Bowl. His rebirth started when Bill Belichick fired Bernie Kosar in the middle of the 1993 Browns season. The following year, Testaverde took the Browns to the playoffs and won a wild-card game. He counts that as one of his special career memories. "My stay in Tampa was a pretty rocky road," Testaverde said Wednesday. "In Cleveland, I had a coach in Bill Belichick, [who], obviously, we all see how great a defensive mind he has. So it allowed me to go out and be more consistent as a quarterback, just understand the league better, what defenses were about, and I became a better quarterback." The next break in Testaverde's career came when Belichick recommended to Bill Parcells to sign him in 1998 with the New York Jets. "If I go [to Cleveland] and just have a suspect season, Bill Belichick is not going to talk to Bill Parcells about bringing me to New York as backup," Testaverde said. Parcells proceeded to cajole Testaverde's best season out of him. He won 12 of 13 starts and took the Jets to the brink of the Super Bowl. They lost to Denver in the championship game. "I'm playing today because I'm still chasing that championship," Testaverde said. "Had I won with Cleveland or maybe with New York, more than likely, I probably wouldn't be sitting here talking to you." Testaverde was in danger of rotting away in New York until this year. Parcells waited for the Jets to cut him because of his salary. Then Parcells shocked the Cowboys and their followers by releasing starting quarterback Quincy Carter in the first week of training camp. Testaverde found himself in a situation similar to when he replaced Kosar in Cleveland. "The things I've learned from the past in Cleveland is that you have to move on to the next day, the next practice," he said. "I feel like I'm good at adapting to the situation that is at hand." Testaverde will hold the reins in Dallas until Drew Henson is ready to take over. Parcells loves Testaverde's arm. "He's a good passer. That's what attracts me to him. He can make all the throws," Parcells said. Testaverde's longevity is a combination of natural physical skills, a good work ethic and the fortune of avoiding serious injury. He said he will continue to play as long as his legs keep him out of harm's way and the game is fun to play. He is the 15th quarterback in NFL history to play at age 40. When he turns 41 on Nov. 13, he will join a much smaller fraternity. Only five quarterbacks have played at that age. "Hopefully," Browns tackle Gerard Warren said, "after Sunday, he'll be ready to retire and go back to Miami."