Parcells Sticks With Testaverde, Criticizes Emphasis On Issue By Tom Orsborn San Antonio Express-News 11/9/04 Vinny Testaverde will remain the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, coach Bill Parcells said Monday during a news conference that saw Parcells turn angry when pressed about his decision not to play rookie Drew Henson. "Only foolish people would ask that question right now," Parcells said when asked to elaborate on his reasons. "... Don't ask me to repeat this any longer. It's pissing me off to have to explain this over and over and over." As the Cowboys' season continues to slip away, speculation has increased that owner Jerry Jones might instruct Parcells to give the team's quarterback of the future some experience. The Cincinnati Bengals whipped Dallas 26-3 on Sunday, a result that left the Cowboys 3-5 and prompted Jones to tell reporters that he would discuss personnel with Parcells during the next "24, 36 hours." But Parcells made it clear Monday that he will continue to play Testaverde, who turns 41 on Saturday. "Jerry's not making the personnel changes -- I am," Parcells said. "...I'm certainly not doing it (starting Henson) now or in the foreseeable future." Parcells said benching Testaverde would be a sign to his team that he has given up on this season. "It would tell my players we are going on to next year, and I'm not ready to do that," Parcells said. Dallas faces a tough schedule in the second half of the season, which begins Monday with a home game against the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles (7-1). The Cowboys also have road contests with playoff contenders Baltimore, Seattle, the New York Giants and the Eagles. In the past five seasons, only six teams have made the playoffs with fewer than 10 victories. The Cowboys would need to win six of their last eight to finish 9-7, an unlikely prospect for a club that has lost three of its past four. After his initial comments regarding the quarterback situation, Parcells told reporters he did not want to discuss the topic further. When a reporter asked him why he wasn't being "open" about not playing Henson, Parcells responded by saying: "I'm being as open as I can; you just don't like the answer. Why should I have to explain? A guy (Testaverde) throws for 2,000 yards. OK? In the first half of the season. All right? ... Why would you, at this point and time, take an unproven guy (Henson) who has not played football in three years and throw him into this with the adversity he has to face now, with (an injury-depleted) receiving corps." Henson, a former Michigan standout, spent the past three years playing baseball in the New York Yankees organization. He has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game. "If I get in there, I'll do my thing and play with confidence," Henson said. "I feel a lot more comfortable than I did six, eight weeks ago. If I get to play some, it will put me in a better spot going into the offseason. But we'll see what happens." Testaverde, meanwhile, said he is not worried about losing his job. The 18-year veteran threw three interceptions against the Bengals, giving six in the past two games and 10 for the season. "The way to handle it is to not look over my shoulder," Testaverde said. "Until the decision is made to play Drew Henson or (third-string quarterback) Tony Romo, I will continue to help this team try to win." Parcells said he felt disheartened after watching film of Sunday's game. The Cowboys committed five turnovers in an outing they had all but labeled a must-win affair. "We were lethargic," Parcells said. "I thought so in warm-ups. We just weren't sharp. It's like we had looked at film of Cincinnati and decided how hard we needed to play. It was a misjudgment. "To be lethargic in a game like that means (the players) don't understand the opportunity. They don't understand what this league is about."