Body Language Tom Orsborn San Antonio Express-News Staff Writer 7/29/04 IRVING -- Vinny Testaverde has heard just about every senior citizen joke imaginable since he joined the Dallas Cowboys last month. Vinny Testaverde, participating in the Cowboys' June minicamp, is confident he can earn the starting QB job. "I've been called grandpa, great grandpa, old man ... all that good stuff," the veteran quarterback said with a shrug, indicating that all the abuse doesn't faze him. And why should it? With the exception of a few gray hairs, Testaverde appears closer to 31 than 41, which he will turn in November. Testaverde's youthful appearance isn't surprising, considering how much work he puts in during the offseason. Long known as one of the NFL's best-conditioned quarterbacks, he is devoted to a rigorous weightlifting program that focuses primarily on strengthening his leg muscles while keeping the rest of his body trim. "Of all the players I've coached, he would have to be right at the top of the list in physical conditioning," Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said. "He is meticulous about it. Don't fight him. He's a powerful guy." He's also a highly motivated guy. Entering his 18th season, Testaverde is determined to unseat Quincy Carter as the starter during training camp, which begins Saturday in Oxnard, Calif. The Cowboys, who finished 10-6 last season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, are scheduled to arrive in Oxnard today. "To play this game, you need the emotions, the competitiveness, the drive," Testaverde said at the team's minicamp in June. "Without that, you are going to let your teammates down. I still feel like I have all those things. "But I have to prove to my teammates and coaches I can still play at a level of high intensity. And I also have to prove that to all those people who think 40 is too old to play." It's easy to understand why Testaverde has his doubters. Few quarterbacks have performed at a high level after age 39. Among those who tried and failed include Johnny Unitas, Dave Krieg and Earl Morrall. Unitas, considered by many to be the greatest quarterback ever, started the first four games of the 1973 season at age 40 for the San Diego Chargers but finished the season on the bench with only 76 pass attempts. He retired at the end of the season. Warren Moon is one of the few quarterbacks who enjoyed 40-and-beyond success. As a 41-year-old starter for the Seattle Seahawks in 1997, Moon passed for 3,678 yards and 25 touchdowns en route to the Pro Bowl. He retired at age 44 after starting 25 games in his 40s and passing for 5,538 yards and 37 TDs. Testaverde, who spent the last six seasons with the New York Jets, isn't promising he can match Moon's age-defying accomplishments. But because he doesn't feel that much different than he did during his last Pro Bowl season (1998), Testaverde is confident he can still produce. "With some injuries that I have had, I don't feel that I'm as fast as I was then," Testaverde said. "But the great thing about being quarterback is you don't have to be fast to be good. "What you do have to have is pocket awareness. You have to do be able move in the pocket, which takes quick feet. There is a difference between being fast and having quick feet. I'm not going to make a 50-yard touchdown run, but I can certainly get away from a pass rush." And he still throws a mean fastball, which he attributes to his offseason weightlifting. One of the Cowboys' top performers in the weight room, Testaverde has bench pressed 360 pounds and safety squatted 500. "Arm strength comes from your legs," Testaverde said. "If you keep your legs strong, doing squats and power lifts, you will have a stronger upper body because of it." The other veterans on the team marvel at Testaverde's devotion to staying in shape. Among them is 35-year-old safety Darren Woodson, who has another reason for being a Testaverde fan. "With me here, he's no longer the old man on the team," Testaverde said.