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November 21, 2006
- Flutie on Vinny: Why did the Patriots sign Vinny Testaverde instead of perhaps Doug Flutie? Speaking yesterday on a conference call for ESPN, Flutie noted that he had no interest in returning to the NFL. "Bill [Belichick] and I talked about it during the offseason and I told him that I was done," Flutie said. "He could stick a fork in me. I'm staying with it. I've got a three-year deal with ESPN. But I'm excited for Vinny. I hope he gets a ring." Flutie said he thinks the 43-year-old Testaverde can help the Patriots, even if he doesn't take the field. "I think it helps to have a sounding board for Tom," he said. "Tom's amazing and nobody works harder than Tom Brady, but sometimes it helps just to have another person there to bounce things off of, and I think that's one of the reasons they brought Vinny in." [Boston Globe] November 20, 2006 - QB Sneak?: Less than one week after coach Bill Belichick said he hoped Vinny Testaverde would never take a snap for the Patriots in his role as emergency quarterback, Testaverde took the field for three kneel-downs. Testaverde stunned his teammates in the huddle when he came running off the sideline. "I ran in the huddle and called the formation and said, 'Quarterback sneak on 1, ready!' and they all looked at me like 'What?' I was just kidding," said the 43-year-old Testaverde, now in his 20th NFL season. "I was just sitting on the sideline and Bill asked me if I wanted to take a knee. I said 'Sure.' It's fun, just to go in the huddle and be with the guys for a couple of plays, under those circumstances, even if you're just taking a knee or handing it off." [Boston Globe] November 19, 2006 - Not Ready To Quit Yet: Vinny Testaverde is 43 years old and hasn't shaken his desire to play football for a living. So, he joined the Pats this week as a backup. Playing in his 20th consecutive season, Testaverde said once you step away, you don't get to come back. "Not in this game," Testaverde said. "Once you stop, that's pretty much it. Miss a year and you're off doing another job -- and it isn't football, I promise you that." [The Standard-Times] New England's Vinny Testaverde, who was signed as the third quarterback earlier in the week, was brought in for the final drive. He handed the ball off three times before kneeling to run out the clock three times. Testaverde played for the first time since December 26, 2005 while with the New York Jets against New England. [Sports Network] November 15, 2006 - Vinny Speaks: Q: Why are you here? VT: I have no idea. I was playing some good golf. I guess [I'm here] because golf season is over and nothing else is going on in my life. But, all kidding aside, a lot of my friends and family asked me why I am still doing this and the simple reason is because I still think I can go out on the field and be productive if need be. I can come in and hopefully help this team get to their goal. And [I'm here] because I love playing football. That's the bottom line. Q: Have you prepared yourself for this over the past couple of months? VT: My lifestyle over the last 20 years or so has been working out and staying in shape. This past offseason it was the same thing. I haven't worked out as hard as I would going into a training camp, but I feel like I am in pretty decent shape. Obviously I have to get into better football shape, but I have some young kids that keep me busy. I'm out in the back yard throwing the football with my son, so I feel pretty good overall. Q: When you were in for a workout six weeks ago, Bill Belichick said that it was a fluid situation. Did that heighten the workouts a bit? VT: Not really. I just continued to do the things I was doing on a daily basis. I just felt like that was good enough to keep me in shape and if I did come into anybody's camp I could go from there. Q: Bill [Belichick] said he hopes that you never see the field on game day. How does that make you feel? VT: That's the idea. He told me he just wanted me to come in [the game] in an emergency situation. Obviously you have Tom [Brady] and Matt [Cassel], who is a young player who has a lot of ability. But, hey, over the years, as a player, if you understand your role you have a better chance to be successful and help the team be successful. Q: So you're cool with that? VT: Oh yeah. I am very good with that. Q: Do you see yourself playing more scout team, taking pressure off of Matt? VT: Sure. I am here to help in any way I can. If that's taking some snaps on the scout team and helping Matt out so that he can also better prepare himself with what he has to get done, then yes. I just love being around football. I enjoy it. I feel like I can still do it. So I am going to milk it to the very end. Q: And hopefully a Super Bowl ring. VT: A Super Bowl ring would be great. There is no better place to have an opportunity like that than here in New England with the Patriots. It's a first-class organization.[Patriots.com] Vinny Testaverde is back in the NFL saddle again. He is back as a 43-year-old insurance policy for the Patriots, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Testaverde is back for a 20th season to chase the elusive Super Bowl ring that was tantalizingly within his grasp when he took Bill Parcells and the Jets to the 1998 AFC Championship Game in Denver, and is thrilled about the opportunity. "I think anytime you go to an organization you know is first class and they're all about winning, as the Jets were and are, you have to be excited about that," Testaverde told The Post after driving north and signing with the Patriots late yesterday afternoon. "I've been around teams that were not as committed early in my career." "Vinny From Elmont" didn't live up to Heisman Trophy expectations with the Bucs before signing with the Belichick Browns March 31, 1993. He helped Belichick to the 1994 playoffs and beat Parcells' Patriots as his late father, Al, advised not to watch the games because of a heart condition, anxiously paced a nearby mall. Asked about Belichick, Testaverde said: "He's just a driven person... someone a lot like me, I guess. He has a goal in sight and he wants to do everything he can to get there." Testaverde was asked how disappointed he was when Belichick resigned as head coach of the Jets after one day on the job, paving the way for Al Groh for one frustrating season. "I was disappointed when Parcells left," he said. "But in this league, there's always going to be change, and that's part of the business. Being with him in Cleveland, I was excited about it. When he decided not to take that job [with the Jets], I was disappointed. If your heart's not in it, you're not gonna help the team." His heart is in it. "I just love football," Testaverde said. "I still feel like I can play." Testaverde, who tutored Chad Pennington in 2000 and 2001, returned to the Jets last season after a season with Parcells in Dallas and started four games. Testaverde, who ranks sixth in NFL history with 45,252 passing yards on 3,691 completions, joins second-year Matt Cassell behind Brady. [New York Post] November 14, 2006 - Vinny Signs With Patriots: Vinny Testaverde, who came out of retirement last season to help out the New York Jets, was signed on Tuesday by New England. The move came after the Patriots lost two straight for the first time since 2002 as Tom Brady played two of his poorest games. Until signing Testaverde, New England had only one other quarterback on its roster, second-year pro Matt Cassel. Testaverde, who turned 43 Monday, was the first overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 1987 draft. He has played 19 NFL seasons and has 269 touchdown passes, eighth in NFL history, and is sixth with 45,252 yards passing. Brady has been listed as probable on the injury report every week for last season and this season, but hasn't missed a game. On Monday, after a 17-14 loss to the New York Jets dropped the Patriots to 6-3, coach Bill Belichick was asked if Brady's throwing shoulder, the reason he's been on the list, affected him. "I think he's been able to play in every game, so you'd have to ask him that," Belichick said of Brady, who only meets with reporters on Wednesdays. "There probably isn't a player in the league that plays every week that's 100 per cent today. He's probably in that category." Asked if Brady has seemed hampered in his performance, Belichick said, "I think that Tom has had good days, good weeks of practice. I just think overall, we collectively as a team -- coaches, players, everybody -- we just have to do a better job. I think we all feel that way. That includes everybody." In Testaverde, joining his sixth NFL team, the Patriots get a player whose experience is at the opposite extreme of Cassel. The Patriots drafted Cassel in the seventh round in 2005 after he threw just 33 passes at Southern California as the backup to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Since the Minnesota game, Brady threw four interceptions and had a 34.0 rating in a 27-20 loss to Indianapolis, then had an 84.9 rating with one touchdown pass and one interception against the Jets. He's completed 59.2 per cent of his passes this season for 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, a few of which were tipped. Testaverde has played for Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Baltimore, Dallas and the Jets. He retired after playing with the Cowboys in 2004, but last season rejoined the Jets, for whom he played from 1998-2003, after starter Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler were injured in the same game. Testaverde, who started four games for the Jets last season, became the first player in NFL history to throw at least one touchdown pass in 19 straight seasons. He completed 60 of 106 passes for 777 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions. [Associated Press] September 28, 2006 - New England Patriots Interested?: You knew there would be a Vinny Testaverde sighting at some point. Interesting that it's coming now. The 42-year-old, 20-year veteran quarterback was in Foxboro yesterday for a workout and visit with team officials. Of course, Testaverde hardly needs an introduction to Bill Belichick and personnel director Scott Pioli, whom he played under in Cleveland and with the Jets. The fact the Pats felt the need to get a firsthand look at him, and likely give him a physical, means their interest is beyond cursory. The Pats have now worked out three veteran quarterbacks over the past two weeks - Testaverde, Tommy Maddox and Todd Bouman. The prevailing wisdom throughout the offseason was that the Pats would add a veteran at some point in camp to take the place of retired Doug Flutie and give the team at least one experienced player behind Tom Brady. Instead, the Pats came out of August with only second-year quarterback Matt Cassel under Brady on the depth chart. The Pats routinely work out free agent players throughout the year so they have a file on them in case of emergency. Perhaps that's what they did with Testaverde. It's also possible the Pats could be interested in having an older, more experience presence to throw into the mix with Brady, even if that player never sees the field. Brady is working with the youngest offensive coordinator in the game in 30-year-old Josh McDaniels and Cassel certainly offers him little support from an off-field standpoint. Meanwhile, Testaverde, who turns 43 in November, is said to be very interested in returning to the NFL and being on a team with a chance to win a title, which he's never accomplished. He's been living in Long Island with his family, staying in shape and keeping in touch with a select few NFL teams, including the Pats. After starting 15 games for the Cowboys in 2004, Testaverde returned to New York last season and started four games in emergency duty for the Jets. Testaverde completed 60-of-106 passes (56.6 percent) for 777 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions. [Boston Herald] December 28, 2005 - "I'll Always Remember": Vinny Testaverde became the first player in NFL history to throw at least one touchdown pass in 19 consecutive seasons, connecting on a 27-yard score to Laveranues Coles in the fourth quarter of the New York Jets' 31-21 loss to New England on Monday night. "Just to get in and play, for me you couldn't have scripted a better ending," Testaverde said. Testaverde, 42, signed with the Jets earlier this year after season-ending injuries to Chad Pennington and Jay Fiedler. He started four games before being replaced by Brooks Bollinger in Week 9. Bollinger started against the Patriots, but Testaverde came in with 3:20 remaining. Coach Herm Edwards promised last week he would get the veteran quarterback out of UM into a game for the final time. Testaverde was 3 of 7 for 63 yards on the scoring drive. Although Edwards maintained he wanted Testaverde to go out in front of his adoring fans, the decision to put him in with so little time left and so few fans in the game was questioned. Testaverde said he would have wanted to go in earlier, but Edwards said the timing was "right" to put Testaverde in at the end. Nonetheless, Testaverde was happy to be back on the field. "They can't take this away. Even though the season hasn't gone the way the team would want it to go, it's been more than I can ask for," Testaverde said. ``The way the fans reacted to me going on the field this year, it's something I'll always remember."[Miami Herald] December 27, 2005 - Vinny Leaves Mark With TD Pass: Jets veteran quarterback Vinny Testaverde jogged onto the field to cheers from the few diehards left at Giants Stadium late in the fourth quarter and promptly went into the record books. Testaverde, who entered the game with 3:20 left to play and his team trailing by 17 points, hit wide receiver Laveranues Coles on a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut Jets deficit to 31-21 with 2:10 left to play. With the touchdown pass, Testaverde, 42, became the first player in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass in each of his 19 NFL seasons. He'll retire following the season. "Putting the game aside, it felt good to go in there and throw the touchdown and get the monkey off my back. If that was my last pass, it's a good way to end my career." [NJ star-Ledger] It was hardly a game befitting of being the final episode in an historic 36-year run of Monday Night Football on ABC. One of the few brief bright spots for the Jets came near the end as Vinny Testaverde came off the bench to throw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Laveranues Coles that made the final score the same as in ABC's first MNF game -- a Jet loss to the Browns on Sept. 21, 1970. Testaverde got his career curtain call, albeit with about 300 fans in the stands and 3:20 remaining in the game and the Jets woefully out of it. He did, however, throw the last TD pass on ABC's Monday Night Football. "They can't take this away," Testaverde said. "For me personally, I couldn't have scripted a better ending." [New York Post] December 23, 2005 - Vinny Rumored To Get Farewell Chance On MNF: If everything plays out the way the Jets would like it, Vinny Testaverde's swan song will come in Monday night's game against the Patriots, a team source told The Post yesterday. Herman Edwards has said "when the time is right" Testaverde would be inserted into one of the last two games. The source said the coaches are planning to play Testaverde before the national TV audience in the final Monday Night Football telecast by ABC. Testaverde won't start, according to the source, because the team doesn't feel it would be fair to Brooks Bollinger. [New York Post] October 15, 2005 - Doug Jolly About Vinny: Doug Jolley always had admired Vinny Testaverde from afar, so when he found out Testaverde would be taking over as the Jets quarterback last week, the tight end thought it would be good news for him. "You just look at what he's done with other tight ends," Jolley said. "What he and Jason Witten were able to do last year [in Dallas]." Witten made the Pro Bowl in his second Year, and Jolley wound up having his most productive game since being traded to the Jets from Oakland before the season, finishing with three catches for 46 yards in the win over the Buccaneers. "You could tell how confident he was in the huddle right away," Jolley, who had just four catches going into last week's game, said of Testaverde. "He's so football-savvy. Even though we only had one week of practice together, I knew he liked to go to the tight end." Despite the early success, Jolley said they aren't where they need to be yet. "There are still some things we need to work on," Jolley said. "You have to be consistent, so we'll see if we can do it again in Buffalo [tomorrow].". [New York Post] Boomer Esiason is 44 years old, barely three years older than Vinny Testaverde. So the question was only natural: After watching Testaverde get off his couch and win a game for the Jets last week, did the itch come back for Esiason? "No, no, no, no, no," the former Jets quarterback said. "I'm 44. I play ice hockey and basketball, and that's where it stops. I'm bigger than all my ice hockey teammates and the guys we play against, so I'm the guy that's levying the hits. I'm not taking them." After spending some time around his former team this, Esiason came to the conclusion the Jets just might be able to hang in the playoff race with Testaverde. With an expanded game plan in a hostile environment, the Jets have lost two in a row at Buffalo, Testaverde might be asked to do more than in his debut last week against the Bucs. According to Esiason, that could be good or bad. "I think they can really do some things this week that should allow them to take advantage of his arm, assuming the weather's good," Esiason said. "[Offensive coordinator Mike] Heimerdinger probably was like, `Wow, this kid can throw. Let's give him more stuff.' But then I think you're burdening him with having to learn all this. The great thing here is that he's the savior now. There's no pressure on him. He isn't coming into the season with these great expectations that they had at the end of the '90s. This really should be a lot of fun for him. I've got to be honest with you: I can't remember the last time I saw him this happy. I mean, he's giddy." [Hartford Courant] October 14, 2005 - Vinny Loses The Rust: First down is important, Coach Herman Edwards said, "because it kind of sets up what you want to do on second down." "If you make, let's say five yards, defensive coordinators don't want to see a second-and-5. Because now you're sitting there wondering, are they going to run it? Pass it? So the first down kind of sets up what you're going to do," Edwards said. When a team has success on first down, the gains cannot be measured in yards alone. "It certainly builds some confidence and lets everybody know, 'Hey, we can move the football,' " Testaverde said. The 41-year-old Testaverde was speaking while standing in front of his locker. On the top shelf of his cubicle, as out of place as Geritol bottles, were three cans of Rust-Oleum: rust performer, protective enamel and satin finish (hunter green, naturally). "First you have to spread on the rust performer, then you add a coat of protective enamel, and then you spray on the satin finish so you look good," Testaverde said. So much for his straight face. Laughing, Testaverde explained that he had received the cans last week as a gift from linebacker Jonathan Vilma. He returned from meetings one day and there the cans were on his stool. "He said he was getting the rust off," Vilma said. "So I thought I'd buy him some stuff to help him." Whatever it takes to get the offense running smoothly. [New York Times] October 11, 2005 - Parcells Sends Well Wishes After Win: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde has been showered with congratulatory calls the past two days, one of which came from the coach who cut him last season. Bill Parcells, who let the 41-year-old Testaverde go and signed 33-year-old Drew Bledsoe last off-season, called Testaverde Sunday night. "I told him I was happy for him," Parcells told the Dallas media yesterday. "I was. I was happy for him. I told him they would love him now since he was the underdog." Coach Herman Edwards joked that Testaverde, who was watching the Jets play from his couch two weeks ago, has started a trend. "Probably a lot of guys sitting on their couch are going to want tryouts," Edwards said. "Vinny doing what he did. He did a good job." [NJ Star-Ledger] WFAN, the radio home of the Giants, has signed the Jets' quarterback. Vinny Testaverde, who led the Jets to a 14-12 win over Tampa on Sunday, will be on FAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" show every Monday at 5:05 p.m. through the rest of the season. He debuted yesterday. Testaverde's deal with FAN leaves ESPN-1050, the Jets' radio station, without a Jets QB. Chad Pennington bailed out of his weekly regular ESPN-1050 show after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The station does have Giants QB Eli Manning on its roster. "We're excited about having Vinny on the station," said FAN GM Lee Davis. "He's been a guest, but never a regular." [NY Daily News] November 26 - Vinny Saves The Day: Bill Parcells wants to develop Drew Henson into an NFL quarterback and he wants to win games. If he has to pick one, he'll take winning every time. So with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears playing terribly and tied at halftime, Parcells decided he'd seen enough from the rookie. He pulled Henson from his first start, turned to Vinny Testaverde and walked away smiling with a 21-7 victory Thursday, ending a three-game losing streak and winning for just the second time since September. "I'm going to relax and enjoy this," Parcells said. "I didn't know whether we were going to get another one or not for a while." Henson went into halftime 4-of-12 for 31 yards. Parcells told him, "Good job," and that he was going with Testaverde. The way Dallas has been playing, fans would gladly trade losses to get experience for Henson. He got the loudest cheers in pregame introductions and Testaverde was booed when he took over. One fan even held up a "Where's Drew?" sign during the third quarter. "I know everyone has been clamoring for this. I don't care," Parcells said. "I've got other peoples' interests to consider. I really don't care. I'm going to do what I think is best." Testavede started slowly, then in the fourth quarter capped a Julius Jones-led drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Darian Barnes. An interception on Chicago's next snap brought the Cowboys right back on the field and soon after Jones scampered four yards up the middle for his second touchdown. Testaverde finished 9-of-14 for 92 yards. Parcells wouldn't say who will start next at quarterback, but he has until a week from Monday night to decide. Darian Barnes became the 62nd different player Testaverde has thrown a touchdown pass to, tying the NFL record set by Steve DeBerg. [Associated Press] November 25 - Vinny To Backup Henson: Cowboys rookie quarterback Drew Henson will make his first career start Sunday and 41-year-old Vinny Testaverde will be his backup. There had been some doubt that Testaverde (back, shoulder) would even be active for today's Thanksgiving game against the Bears. [Dallas Morning News] November 13 - Happy Birthday Vinny!: Vincent Frank Testaverde was born 11/13/63 and turned 41 years old today. November 9 - Upcoming Milestones: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde needs 47 passing yards to surpass Dan Fouts (43,040) for sixth all-time and two touchdown passes to pass Dave Krieg (261) for eighth all-time. [Dallas Morning News] November 1 - Vinny Dresses His Linemen: Every Cowboys offensive linemen had new suits hanging in their lockers Monday, compliments of Testaverde. Testaverde, who once gave all his offensive linemen with the Jets Rolex watches, said he bought the suits to thank his teammates for their effort. He expects the bill to run somewhere between $12,000-$15,000. Offensive tackle Kurt Vollers went around the locker room inspecting some of the other suits to "see who picked out the ugliest one." Left guard Larry Allen and right tackle Torrin Tucker both went with dark, pin-striped suits, and Vollers chose charcoal gray. A representative from a custom clothing store in Sherman Oaks, Calif., recently flew to Dallas to measure the players for suits. Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde said coach Bill Parcells couldn't stop talking about tight end Jason Witten before training camp. Testaverde even started wondering if Parcells might be overselling the second-year player. Then he started throwing him passes. "Maybe he didn't give him enough credit," Testaverde said Monday. "He's going to be one of the very best." Testaverde has played with Kyle Brady and Anthony Becht, but he said Witten has already surpassed those players in terms of his versatility. [Dallas Morning News] October 31 - Vinny Carries The Cowboys To Victory: QB Vinny Testaverde led the the Cowboys to a 31-21 win over the Detroit Lions Sunday afternoon at Texas Stadium. When it counted, Vinny Testaverde came up big. Testaverde passed for three touchdowns and ran for a score as the Dallas Cowboys posted a 31-21 victory over the upstart Detroit Lions. The 41-year-old signal caller engineered a 15-play, 83-yard drive on the Cowboys' first possession, completing all six of his passes for 58 yards. On the Cowboys' next score, Testaverde picked up a first down on a 4th-and-3 with a seven-yard sneak to the Detroit 35 before finishing the drive with a 26-yard scoring pass to Keyshawn Johnson , who bounced off a defender at the 12 and went in to tie the game at 14-14. On the third play of the third quarter, Testaverde ran around right end for a three-yard TD, his first rushing score since 1998. After Detroit moved within 24-21 with 5:29 remaining on a 50-yard pass by Joey Harrington to David Kircus , Testaverde converted a 3rd-and-8 pass for 30 yards to rookie Patrick Crayton and then hit Johnson on a 38-yard scoring play to end any hopes of a Detroit comeback. [SilverStarDigest] As the only Dallas Cowboys receiver who'd ever caught a pass in an NFL game, Keyshawn Johnson knew he had to come through big for quarterback Vinny Testaverde. He didn't. At least, not until the game was on the line. Johnson ran wrong routes on two of the first balls thrown his way, turning both into interceptions, but redeemed himself with two touchdown catches, including a 38-yarder with 1:54 left that sealed a 31-21 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Testaverde's throws, however, weren't as impressive as his runs. Two weeks shy of his 41st birthday, Testaverde stunned everyone with a 7-yard run on fourth-and-3 to set up a tying touchdown, and scrambled 3 yards for the go-ahead score, helping Dallas (3-4) end a three-game losing streak. "If we're going to start to turn this thing around, this is where we needed to start," Testaverde said. Testaverde was 19-of-24 for 235 yards, offsetting three interceptions with three touchdowns. [Associated Press] October 3 - Vinny on Parcells on 60 Minutes: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde had his best season playing for Parcells back with the Jets. Now, even though he's 40, Parcells signed him to lead the Cowboys. "He tries to put a lot of pressure on the players on his team throughout the week of practice," says Testaverde. "So, when you go out on Sunday afternoon and play in a game, it's like the world has been lifted off your shoulders." Parcells also let Mike Wallace in on a secret. At the ripe old age of 63, he believes that has finally started to mellow. "You know, the end is near. I really do know it, you know what I mean," says Parcells. "So I can enjoy it more. I'm enjoying it a lot more now than I did and I'm not beating myself up quite as much." He told Wallace that he and his veteran players aren't just fighting the opposing team -- they're fighting Father Time. "We're all in the same boat. Testaverde, Keyshawn Johnson, Bill Parcells. All of these kids, we're all at risk," says Parcells. "They're all waiting to say, 'You guys are washed up.' They're all waiting to say it. That's the business. But that's also the fun. The fun is trying to prove somebody wrong." [CBS News] September 27 - Two In A Row: Richie Anderson threw a halfback option pass for a touchdown, and safety Tony Dixon blitzed for two of the Dallas Cowboys' five sacks. Even so, they were bit players in the overall drama. Bill Parcells beat Joe Gibbs in their first meeting in 14 years when the Cowboys defeated the Washington Redskins 21-18 Monday night. Vinny Testaverde was 14-of-29 for 214 yards for the Cowboys, while Anderson's completion was the first of his NFL career. [Associated Press] September 26 - Not A Fan Of MNF: Cowboys quarterback Vinny Testaverde isn't a big fan of Monday Night Football -- even when he's not playing. Testaverde, 40, said he fell asleep watching Monday's game between the Eagles and Vikings because it was past his bedtime. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram] September 20 - More Records Set: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw for 322 yards Sunday, making him only the second Cowboys quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in consecutive games. He joins Don Meredith, who had back-to-back 300-yard games in 1963. Testaverde is the first 40-year-old quarterback in NFL history to post consecutive 300-yard games. [Houston Chronicle] September 19 - The Good, The Bad And The Win: Bill Parcells is always toughest on his teams after they win, especially when they win ugly. That means the next eight days could be excruciating for the Dallas Cowboys. Vinny Testaverde threw for 322 yards and Eddie George ran for 61 yards and a touchdown in a 19-12 victory over the Cleveland Browns that had all the makings of a blowout -- if not for mistake after mistake by the Cowboys. Dallas (1-1) reached at least the Cleveland 43-yard line on 10 of its 11 drives, but turned them into only two touchdowns and a field goal. The rest were squandered by four turnovers (including three late interceptions by Testaverde), a missed field goal and two punts. Add in some silly and ill-timed penalties and the Browns (1-1) were in the game to the end. Yet quarterback Jeff Garcia couldn't muster the spark he showed in winning his Cleveland debut, throwing three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter after his defense picked off Testaverde. Garcia was 8-of-27 for just 71 yards and had a rating of 0.0. The Browns had just 202 total yards, with their only points coming on four field goals by Phil Dawson. Testaverde was 23-of-35 and threw for a touchdown. He looked great early, driving 90 yards on the first series against a defense coached by Dave Campo, who was the Cowboys' coach before Parcells. Dallas' drive included a flea-flicker to Keyshawn Johnson for 38 yards and a 1-yard TD pass to third-string tight end Jeff Robinson. But the problems followed quickly. Then the game dissolved into the back-and-forth interceptions -- five in a span of six drives. [Associated Press] September 16 - Cowboy Record: In his Cowboys debut, Vinny Testaverde threw for 355 yards, the 14th highest single-game total in club history and the most by a Dallas quarterback since Troy Aikman threw for 455 yards against Minnesota on Thanksgiving Day in 1998. It was the best debut performance ever by a Cowboys quarterback. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram] September 13 - An Oldie, But Goodie: The NFL is a young man's league. On second thought, perhaps the NFL was a young man's league. Maybe there is a place for the men with a paunch and a bit of scalp showing through their hair after all. The elder statesmen of the NFL made some loud statements in the first week of the season. The NFL's oldest starting quarterback, 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde, lit up the Minnesota Vikings' defence for 355 passing yards, the highest total among quarterbacks in week one. Meanwhile, the oldest running back in the league, Arizona's 35-year-old Emmitt Smith, showed he has plenty of gas left in his tank with 87 yards and a touchdown against St. Louis. Despite the inspiration the veterans provide to the older football fans of America, age is not an issue they players care to address. "I'm not out to prove that 40-year-olds can still play," explained Testaverde before the Vikings fixture. "I'm out to prove to my team-mates I can play, and be successful, and help them win. It doesn't matter if I'm 25 or 40. That would be my same outlook." Whether they want the attention or not keep your eyes on the NFL's old guard, because it could be a historic year for the players north of 30. [BBC Sport in California] September 12 - Vinny Shines in Opening Season Loss: Vinny Testaverde did his best to match Minnesota's rising star, Daunte Culpepper. But even Testaverde's great start wasn't enough as the Dallas Cowboys lost to the Vikings 35-17 on Sunday. The 40-year-old Testaverde was 29-for-50 for 355 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. His favorite target, Keyshawn Johnson, caught nine balls for 111 yards in his first game with the Cowboys. Dallas coach Bill Parcells blamed the loss on poor defense. [Associated Press] September 6 - Possible Milestones For 2004: The Cowboys' Vinny Testaverde needs 2,098 passing yards to move past Dan Fouts (43,040) into sixth place all time. Testaverde has passed for 40,943 yards. Four more touchdown passes will also put him ahead of Fouts in the NFL's top 10 in that category. September 1 - Pennington Still Keeping An Eye On Vinny: Chad Pennington watched some of Vinny Testaverde's performance Monday night for Dallas - 17-for-24, 240 yards, including eight completions to Keyshawn Johnson. "You can just tell he has a natural feel for Keyshawn," Pennington said of the 40-year-old Testaverde. "He looked about 36." [Newsday] August 31 - Vinny Impresses Under National Spotlight: Vinny Testaverde and Keyshawn Johnson were hooking up again like old times. But Eddie George did nothing against his old team. Testaverde completed 17 of 24 passes for 240 yards and his first touchdown of the exhibition season, and Johnson had eight catches for 81 yards to help the Dallas Cowboys beat the Tennessee Titans, 20-17, Monday night. It was the best game so far for Testaverde and Johnson, teammates in 1998 when the New York Jets went to the AFC title game. The quarterback and receiver reunited with Coach Bill Parcells in the off-season. Neither played in the second half. [Associated Press] August 29 - Jerry Jones Thinks Quarterbacking Is Better: Jerry Jones reads the papers, hears the talk shows. More importantly, the Dallas Cowboys' owner watches practice, sees the tapes. So he is not unaware of the concerns that surround his team which has but two preseason games - 72 hours apart, mind you - to get ready for the 2004 season. How does this offense control the ball the way last year's did? Is the quarterback position solid - or even viable? Does the signing of defensive tackle Chad Eaton, out of football for a year, indicate panic? When Randy Moss lines up on the left side of the field Sept. 12, can anyone cover him? Jones knows all these things, all these doubts are out there. What he sees is something else entirely. He sees a team competing for the NFC East title. Dallas hasn't won a division title in six years. Philadelphia has owned the East the last three. Despite what has been something of a turbulent off-season for Dallas, is it possible the Cowboys have closed the two-game gap that separated them from the Eagles in 2003? "Yes, I believe we have," Jones said. "I say that, given the caveat that the Eagles were better than we were last year. Washington may well be better than they were last year, and I think the Giants will too. But I think we have closed the gap." Jones cited the arrivals of veterans Vinny Testaverde, Eddie George and Keyshawn Johnson as being central to his contention that Dallas has improved. In addition, he believes rookie Julius Jones will make an immediate difference. And, not surprisingly, the man who pushed the Cowboys to draft Quincy Carter in the second round and trumpeted Carter's potential for the last three years now believes Dallas is better off without him. "I like our quarterbacking better than last year," he said. "We have a chance to throw the ball better." More accurately? "Just better. Better all around. We can throw it intermediate, we can throw it deep. That's not a criticism of Quincy, that's just the makeup of our quarterback position," he said. "I think we're in better shape at backup quarterback, too. [Dallas Morning News] August 28 - Vinny To Play Longer: Cowboys coach Bill Parcells will treat Monday's game against the Tennessee Titans at Texas Stadium more like the regular season, which means more playing time for Vinny Testaverde and the first-team offense. Testaverde has yet to direct the offense to a touchdown in the preseason, but he was better against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, completing 13 of 17 passes for 124 yards. The Cowboys had to settle for three field goals in the first half. "I'm happy with his progress," Parcells said. "That's what encourages me to give him more work. I think he's through that fatigue period, at least he told me he was. He's not really tired." [Dallas Morning News] August 23 - Back On Track: Vinny Testaverde and crew did show some progress by getting field goals on all three of Dallas' first-half drives Saturday night against the Oakland Raiders. Testaverde took over the quarterback duties earlier in training camp after the Cowboys cut Quincy Carter, who took them to the playoffs last season. Testaverde struggled in the preseason opener as Dallas lost 18-0 to Houston. But he showed there's still some life in that 40-year-old body against the Raiders, completing 13 of 17 passes for 124 yards before leaving at halftime. Testaverde completed four passes in the half to Johnson, his favorite target when the two played for the New York Jets. Johnson had one catch in the opener. Testaverde led two long scoring drives - 84 and 61 yards - in the first half as his offensive line gave him plenty of time to throw. But on three trips inside the 20, all the Cowboys could do was settle for field goals. A false start by Al Johnson helped stall one drive and Eddie George failed to convert on two short-yardage runs to stop another. "We improved what we did a week ago but we still need to improve and get the ball into the end zone and not just kick field goals," Testaverde said. [Associated Press] August 21 - Timing Trouble Mean More Time: It's been roughly two weeks since 40-year-old quarterback Vinny Testaverde was given the keys to the Cowboys' offense after the release of Quincy Carter. It's safe to say that the offense is not running on all cylinders. The timing between the receivers and Testaverde, an 18-year veteran who was mainly a backup the past two seasons with the New York Jets, is off. He's not releasing the ball fast enough, according to coach Bill Parcells. To accelerate the process, Parcells plans to play Testaverde and the first-team offense for much, if not all, of the first half of tonight's preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. "I think he's in good condition," Parcells said. "He still obviously can pass the ball. I just think it's a timing issue a little bit. Getting behind the center. Vinny has a tendency to want to do everything perfectly. I have a tendency to want to get the ball out of his hands. That's a little conflict." Although Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett said this week that age has taken its toll on Testaverde, neither Parcells nor Testaverde believes that. "It just a matter of going out and doing it and showing people I can still do it," Testaverde said. "I feel confident within the offense and with the players I have been getting the ball to. We just need to have success in the game. If we do that, the confidence will grow." [San Jose Mercury News] August 16 - Vinny Will Get Better With Reps: Vinny Testaverde will see more work in the second preseason game Saturday against Oakland, and the coach will probably keep the rotation behind Testaverde Ð Drew Henson followed by Tony Romo Ð the same. Testaverde said he nearly equaled his 2003 preseason snaps in New York with his work against Houston in the preseason opener, and the extra work will be a good thing. "We're far from being battle-hardened, as Bill likes to say," said Testaverde, who completed four of seven passes for 34 yards. "The more reps I get, the better I'll be." [Dallas Morning News] August 15 - First Preseason Game Recap: David Carr was almost perfect. The new-look Cowboys offense wasn't. Carr was 7-of-8 for 89 yards and a touchdown Saturday in the host Houston Texans' 18-0 victory over Dallas in their preseason opener, which featured the Dallas debuts of veterans Vinny Testaverde, Eddie George and Keyshawn Johnson. Testaverde, the nominal starter after the Cowboys cut incumbent Quincy Carter on Aug. 4, was 4-of-7 for 34 yards, including a 13-yard completion to Johnson. [Associated Press] August 4 - Vinny Officially Cowboys Starting QB: In a move the team wouldn't explain, the Dallas Cowboys cut Quincy Carter on Wednesday and handed the starting quarterback's job to 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde. [Herald Wire Services] June 3 - As Vinny Becomes A Cowboy, Jets Say Goodbye: The two Jets' quarterbacks who know Vinny Testaverde best know something will be missing for a while now that he has been released. "It'll be weird not having No. 16 around," Chad Pennington said Wednesday at the end of the first of 10 organized-team-activity practices. "He provided a lot of stability and wisdom for me. There'll be an adjustment period." "You hear people say sometimes that athletes aren't good role models," said new No. 2 QB Brooks Bollinger, "but from the first day I got here I had two great role models in Vinny and Chad." Even though Testaverde and the regime of coach Herman Edwards had their rough patches, Edwards sent Testaverde off with a pat on the back toward his next NFL team, most likely Dallas. "Vinny did a great job for us here on and off the field," Edwards said. "He stepped up as a leader early, and he took the backup role and walked with it like a professional. I think Vinny can still play." But Testaverde played for the last time as a Jet in Game 7 at Philadelphia last season, when he was hooked in the second quarter so that Pennington could return to action from his injured left wrist. Pennington said the new QB depth chart, which includes CFL star Ricky Ray and rookie free agent Chris Finlen, will be the better for its exposure to Testaverde. "The biggest thing I'll take from Vinny is his consistency," Pennington said. "People don't realize how much effort he puts into it: taking care of himself, lifting, running, doing things right on the field. That's easier said than done, and he's done it for 17 years." [Bergen Record] June 2 - A Jet No More: More prominent players are expected to be cut this week, including the Jets' planned release of quarterback Vinny Testaverde today. Testaverde, who played six seasons for the Jets and who helped lead them to the American Football Conference championship game in the 1998 season, could end up in Dallas with Bill Parcells, his Jets coach during that playoff year. New England is also said to be interested in Testaverde as security behind Tom Brady. [New York Times] May 21 - Parcells and Belichick May Feud Over Vinny: The Dallas Cowboys might have competition in trying to sign quarterback Vinny Testaverde following his expected release by the New York Jets in June. The New England Patriots also could be in the running, executives from other teams say. [Washington Post] May 20 - All Signs Point To Dallas: Bill Parcells needs a veteran QB to challenge Quincy Carter and to mentor Drew Henson. Dallas never pursued Kerry Collins, despite his relationship with Sean Payton. That re-emphasizes what the Daily News reported in March: Vinny Testaverde is headed for a post-June 1 reunion with Parcells and Keyshawn Johnson. [NY Daily News] The Cowboys aren't ruling out bringing in a veteran quarterback, even one from a New York team. But Parcells chose not to discuss a possibility of reuniting with Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who is expected to be released by the team on June 1. In fact, while talking directly his former quarterback, Parcells refrained from even using his name since Testaverde still is property of the Jets. Testaverde played under Parcells two seasons with the Jets, guiding New York to the AFC Championship Game in 1998, just two seasons after the club finished 1-15. "I don't know what the availability of some guys are," Parcells said of free-agent quarterbacks. "I know there has been some speculation about particularly one guy here, but he's on another team so I have nothing to say about him. I think there is a chance that there will be some veteran quarterbacks available at some point in time, there already is one, you know, Collins, so when that comes whoever they are you have to look it on a case-by-case basis." Parcells said the Cowboys are not looking for another starting quarterback, saying Quincy Carter is still his guy, for now. "I've got a year invested in Quincy and a couple of these other kids here, so I'm just hopeful they can improve," Parcells said. "But in the meantime, if we get some chances to do something that might serve us better, then we might do it." [DallasCowboys.com] ...The question, though, is whether the Cowboys have their quarterback of the present. Many around the league expect Parcells to be reunited with Vinny Testaverde, signing the veteran quarterback after his expected release by the New York Jets next month. Although Testaverde turns 41 in November, he showed while filling in for the injured Chad Pennington last season that he still has enough arm to be effective under the right circumstances. He would have been the AFC's fifth-rated passer if he had had enough attempts to qualify for the rankings. He had the best season of his career playing for Parcells with the Jets in 1998, and few around the league would be surprised if he ends up as Dallas's Opening Day starter next season. The Cowboys already have acquired Testaverde's favorite 1998 target, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, in a trade that sent wideout Joey Galloway to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson lacks Galloway's speed but should be an effective possession receiver for Parcells, complementing wide receivers Terry Glenn and Antonio Bryant. [Washington Post] April 11 - Under The Knife: Jets QB Vinny Testaverde is recovering from a recent foot operation, the same foot that required surgery to remove a benign tumor in 2002. It shouldn't prevent him from signing with the Cowboys after his release in June. [NY Daily News] March 11 - Jets Leaving Vinny In Limbo: Many think the Jets' Vinny Testaverde will try to hook on with another NFL team as a No. 2 quarterback. That may be, but for the time being, he remains under contract to the Jets and has not been given permission to seek a trade. "We're not allowed to do anything with any other teams," Mike Azzarelli, Testaverde's agent, said Wednesday. "We have to wait until we ultimately find out what they're going to do. He's under contract, and they have not said they are going to cut him." There was some thought that Testaverde could quietly talk to teams now, such as Dallas and Bill Parcells, New England and Bill Belichick, and Carolina with coordinator Dan Henning. But under the recently announced arrangement with the Jets, all Testaverde can do is work out at his Long Island home and be prepared to retire, to be released, or to be traded. "I imagine that's true," Azzarelli said of teams who might want Testaverde as a second-stringer. "At this point Vinny's deciding what he's going to do. It's tough to talk about. I don't know what it all means. There are just too many moving parts right now." [Bergen Record] February 18 - Vinny Not Returning?: Vinny Testaverde's future could be determined in the coming days, with growing indications that the backup QB won't return in 2004. Another issue involves backup quarterback Vinny Testaverde, who is scheduled to meet this week with Herman Edwards to discuss his role. There are growing indications that Testaverde, 40, will receive his release in the coming days, although the club may not make it official until after June 1. By waiting, they can minimize the salary-cap hit in 2004. If they cut him before June 1, the cap charge this season would be a hefty $7.5 million. After June 1, it's $3.5 million in 2004, with another $4 million in 2005. Testaverde, knowing that Brooks Bollinger is being groomed for the No. 2 job, has said he'd rather retire than accept a demotion to third-string. [NY Daily News] It might be another innocuous offseason workout by a little-known free agent, but today's visit to Weeb Ewbank Hall by Canadian Football League star quarterback Ricky Ray might be a sign Vinny Testaverde's days as a Jet are numbered. No one is saying for certain what Testaverde's status is at this point, but he's on record saying if he's not the No. 2 QB on the Jets' roster in 2004 he'd rather retire. "If I'm not having fun, it's not worth it," Testaverde said late last season. "I don't care if they pay me $8 million to be the third guy." If 40-year-old Testaverde, who's signed through 2005, opts to retire before June 1, the Jets will take a whopping $7.5 million hit on their salary cap this season. If he retires, is traded or is released after June 1, the cap hit will be spread out over the next two seasons. [New York Post] Testaverde's agent, Mike Azzarelli, yesterday cited general manager Terry Bradway's statement that he'd like to have Testaverde back in 2004. But Bradway and coach Herman Edwards haven't addressed the role of Testaverde, who said he'd retire before accepting a demotion to No. 3 quarterback. "I don't make anything of it," Azzarelli said of Ray's visit. "I think it's really Terry's call. If they don't think [Testaverde's] the No. 2, then everybody has to sit down and talk about it." [Newsday] December 30 - Jets Say Vinny Is Staying:
The Jets want Vinny Testaverde to return next season as their backup quarterback. But Testaverde wants to talk about it with team officials before making a commitment. General manager Terry Bradway announced yesterday that Vinny Testaverde will be back in 2004, but the proclamation might have been a little premature. "He's back," Bradway said. "He's our backup quarterback." Not so fast. Bradway and coach Herman Edwards would not say whether they want Testaverde to be the No. 2 or No. 3 quarterback. And Testaverde reiterated his threat to retire - thus slamming the Jets on the salary cap - if he's demoted to the third-string role behind Brooks Bollinger. "I don't want to be a No. 3 and not taking practice reps and just watching and not feeling a part of it," Testaverde said. "If it comes down to that, I won't enjoy myself. And if I'm not having a good time doing what I do, I won't do it. I don't need to do it. I'd rather retire than do something I don't enjoy doing." If Testaverde, 40, retires or is released before June 1, he will count a whopping $7.5 million against the cap. [Newsday] December 17 - 3rd String Not In Cards For Vinny:
Vinny Testaverde said yesterday that if the Jets want to bring him back as the third quarterback, which, according to a club official, they are considering, he'll retire first -- a move that could blow up the team's salary cap with a $7.5 million hit next season. Vinny Testaverde was quietly adamant about not moving down the depth chart to third-string quarterback with the Jets next season. "I still want to play, and I want to know there could be a situation where I might play. Being the No. 3 guy really diminishes those chances," Testaverde said Tuesday. "I'd rather retire than do something I wouldn't enjoy doing, because I'm not doing it for the money any more." The Jets are clearly grooming rookie Brooks Bollinger to be Chad Pennington's backup next season and their preferred plan would be to have Testaverde as the third QB. [Bergen Record] The 40-year-old Testaverde - who because of Pennington's hand injury played in 61/2 games this season and is the sixth-rated QB in the AFC with a 90.6 rating (7 TDs, 2 INTs and a 62.1 completion percentage) - doesn't want to be a No. 3. "I'd rather retire than to do something that I wouldn't enjoy doing, because I'm not doing it for the money anymore," Testaverde said. "The whole premise is that I want to know that I have a chance to get in and play, just like this year. If I were No. 3 this year, I wouldn't have gotten a snap. Brooks [Bollinger] would have gotten all the snaps and I would have sat back and said, 'What the hell am I doing here?'" Herman Edwards and GM Terry Bradway are holding off any talk about next season's plans until after this season is finished. But team insiders familiar with upper management's thinking say the Jets do want Testaverde back, though there's no guarantee it'll be as No. 2. The Jets aren't ruling out Bollinger, a rookie this season, as the No. 2 next season. As one source said, "We've got to get [Bollinger] some playing time at some point." [New York Post] Vinny Testaverde, who has not taken a snap in practice in several weeks, acknowledged that the Jets had begun to groom Bollinger. But Testaverde, 40, believes he can still be a starter after his six-and-a-half-game stint replacing an injured Pennington earlier this season. Testaverde has even considered the possibility of joining another team next season, even though his family lives on Long Island. "If they have other plans for me or different plans than what they are right now, I don't know that I'd enjoy that," Testaverde said. "So I don't know that I'd want to continue to be here. I still want to play and I want to at least know that there could be a situation where I might play, like this year. Being the No. 3 guy really diminishes those chances. I'd rather retire than do something that I wouldn't enjoy doing, because I'm not doing it for the money anymore." [New York Times] If the Jets want Testaverde to be the No. 3 quarterback behind Chad Pennington and Brooks Bollinger - the likely scenario, according to a club official - Testaverde said he would retire instead. Such a move would throw a major obstacle in the Jets' offseason plans, because Testaverde has $7.5 million in old signing bonus money that would hit the team's salary cap. "I'd rather retire than do something that I wouldn't enjoy doing, because I'm not doing it for the money anymore," Testaverde said yesterday. "I'm at a different stage than I was four, five, six years ago. I'm just telling you how I feel." The only way for Testaverde, 40, to pursue a backup or starting job elsewhere would be to negotiate his release from the Jets. He said he was rejuvenated by his seven-game stint as the starter this season while Pennington recovered from a preseason wrist injury. "I felt like I did a pretty good job when I was in there and that continues to support what I believe - that I can still play at a high level in this league," Testaverde said. [Newsday] December 16 - Vinny To Return To NY in 2004?:
Chad Pennington's backup next season probably will remain the same. November 13 - Happy 40th Birthday!: Vinny Testaverde turns 40 years old today and is currently the second oldest active quarterback in the NFL (Doug Flutie). He was born on November 13, 1963. October 30 - Vinny To Be Cut After Season?:
People familiar with the Jets' early road map for recovery believe that as many as 15 players currently on the roster will be gone after the season. That number could include as many as five current starters. General manager Terry Bradway vehemently rejected the notion that Vinny Testaverde was benched in the second quarter last week to save money on incentives. If Testaverde doesn't play again this season, he will fall just shy of an additional $250,000 in playing-time incentives. "We've never operated that way," Bradway said yesterday. "If that was the case, we would have been playing Brooks Bollinger. You can squelch that one." [Newsday] October 26 - Vinny Succeeds, Chad Fails:
After two months and one awkwardly timed substitution, Jets quarterback Chad Pennington's return had boiled down to this: With the lead and the momentum over the Eagles in the fourth quarter, and a left wrist that he said felt good, Pennington dropped back for one of his superb play fakes from the Eagles' 45-yard line. October 25 - Slap In The Face:
Many NFL coaches would pretend that a return trip to some old stomping grounds was no big deal. Not Herman Edwards. October 21 - Vinny To Start; Pennington to Finish:
After six games and a 2-4 record, the run of Vinny Testaverde as the New York Jets starting quarterback will continue at least one more week. Chad Pennington will hand the headset over to Testaverde at some point Sunday after two consecutive victories and a plethora of milestones. October 20 - Herm Mulls Chad or Vinny:
Coach Herman Edwards said he will announce today whether Vinny Testaverde or Chad Pennington will start next Sunday's game in Philadelphia. An 18-yard TD pass to Santana Moss in the second quarter was the 250th in Vinny Testaverde's career. [Newsday] October 18 - Vinny's Last Game?:
With Chad Pennington practicing and cleared to play, this Sunday could be Vinny Testaverde's final start as the Jets' quarterback, a bittersweet benchmark in a career dotted by them. October 1 - Vinny's Incentive To Play:
If Vinny Testaverde is replaced by rookie Brooks Bollinger before Chad Pennington (broken wrist) returns in November, it won't be a popular decision among the players. It also would raise the question of an ulterior motive. More fallout on the ill-fated, fourth-and-3 play from the Cowboys' 10: On Monday, Edwards said he burned a timeout to discuss the decision, claiming there was "some sentiment" to kick the field goal. Turns out that Testaverde was trying to convince Edwards to take the field goal, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Even an amateur lip reader could see the incredulous Edwards, caught on TV, asking Testaverde in the sideline huddle, "You want to kick a field goal?" Maybe he should've listened to his QB. [NY Daily News] Jets general manager Terry Bradway yesterday denied money would be a factor in whether Testaverde remains the starting quarterback when the Jets return from their bye week to play the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 12 at the Meadowlands. "We're trying to win football games," Bradway said. "(The incentives) won't have any affect on how much Vinny plays or doesn't play. Whoever gives us the best chance to win will play, and right now, that's Vinny." Any incentives Testaverde earns this season will count against the cap next season because, as the backup quarterback when the season started, they were considered unlikely to be reached. Incentives considered likely to be reached count against the cap in that season. Ironically, cost concerns might bring Testaverde back next season. If the Jets cut him before June 1, they'll take a $7.556 million salary cap hit next season. If they release him after June 1, they'll take a $3.518 million hit next season and a $4.038 million hit in 2005. [NJ Star-Ledger] September 31 - Vinny's Is Herm's Guy..."At This Point":
It's Vinny Testaverde's job until Chad Pennington returns to the lineup, Herman Edwards said yesterday. When will that happen? For weeks, the target date has been Nov. 2 against the Giants, but the club appears to be backing away from that date. A more realistic return is Nov. 9 in Oakland. ...now that the Jets are offensively challenged, Edwards finds himself fielding questions about rookie quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Yesterday, he was asked if he could anticipate any scenario that might send Testaverde to the bench - before Pennington is ready to play - and his quick answer was, "No, not in my mind. No." Which was better than his line immediately after the loss to Dallas, when he said Testaverde was definitely his guy, before adding, "at this point." At this point, it's worth passing along Testaverde's semi-excuse. He saw very little action during the preseason, he pointed out, and he hadn't started a game since last September. That's a long time between snaps. "I feel I'm improving each week, and coach (Paul) Hackett feels the same way," Testaverde said. It appears that Testaverde goofed on the fourth-down gamble that backfired Sunday against the Cowboys. Testaverde, needing three yards for a first down, hit Wayne Chrebet for a two-yard completion, ending the Jets' last hope. Coordinator Paul Hackett is getting ripped for the design of the play - why throw shy of the first-down marker? - but, according to Edwards, Chrebet couldn't get to the marker because Testaverde's throw was behind him. After reviewing the tape, all parties agreed that WR Santana Moss, who lined up on the same side as Chrebet, was open on the play. Testaverde checked off to Chrebet, the "hot" read, because he anticipated the blitz. After seeing the tape, Testaverde acknowledged that he didn't have to hurry his throw to Chrebet and could've waited for Moss. The Cowboys surprised the Jets by blitzing out of that formation - a middle safety, with man-to-man coverage across the board. Previously, they hadn't blitzed out of that look. [NY Daily News] Testaverde said: "Nothing would surprise me at this point. If [Edwards] does make changes, I don't think it's to shake up the team. I think he's trying to do whatever he has to....to turn this thing around. "We're not making plays. Nowhere in our contract does it say we have to have a starter." Edwards said he plans to rest Testaverde during the team's three bye week practices (Wednesday through Friday) and allow Bollinger and Jamie Martin to share reps with the starting offense. [New York Post] September 29 - Vinny Not Getting Benched:
Following a 17-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Jets are welcoming their bye. Though Edwards will take a harder look at his team, he also said Vinny Testaverde is not in danger of losing his starting job until Chad Pennington returns from a dislocated left wrist in November. Vinny Testaverde overtook Dan Fouts for fifth in NFL history with 3,301 career completions. [Associated Press] Vinny Testaverde completed 21-of-29 passes for 219 yards for a gaudy 93.9 rating. "Vinny's our guy at this point," Herm Edwards said. "We're going to stick with him at this point. We just have to find a way to manufacture some points." "It doesn't get any tougher than the situation we're in right now. It is frustrating," Testaverde said. "It all adds up to losing. Can't score, turnovers, penalties, it all adds up to losing. The effort's there, we're just making too many mistakes." "Obviously it's not where it should be. We're 0-4. Anytime you go through a stretch like this your confidence is going to be hurting. When you lose so many close ones, it's hard to swallow," said Testaverde, whose personal psyche has taken a hit also. "Anytime you go through a stretch like this, your confidence is going to struggle a bit. [You wonder] what could I have done better to help this football team? Even if it's just one thing, you wish you could've done it. It goes through your mind over and over again and you struggle with that; sometimes it affects your confidence." [New York Post] September 25 - Vinny Not Afraid of Benching:
Quarterback Vinny Testaverde was asked yesterday about the possibility of being benched in favor of rookie Brooks Bollinger if the Jets' losing streak continued. QB Vinny Testaverde didn't seem fazed by talk that his job could be in jeopardy, but he admitted it's up to him to get the Jets into the end zone. "I put all of it on myself," he said. "When you're the quarterback, you have to take that responsibility on yourself." [NY Daily News] September 24 - Bill Still Loves Vinny: Bill Parcells raved about two players who were his favorites: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde "will be able to throw it very well when he's 50 years old," Parcells said. He then added that wide receiver Wayne Chrebet "is not too small, he's not too slow. He's as quick and as smart as any receiver in this league. If you're a young defensive back, you better watch it because he'll get away from you in a second. He has rare separation ability." [NJ Star-Ledger] Nobody outside the Jets knows the team better than Parcells. Ten starters were here during his tenure, including Vinny Testaverde, who Parcells said was still the best pure passer in football. [New York Times] September 22 - Vinny's Mistake:
As the Jets broke the huddle on what turned out to be the most critical play of the game, Wayne Chrebet took his customary position as the slot receiver to the left of the formation. This is Chrebet's office, the place he has worked so many clutch plays over the years. September 21 - Moving Up The All-Time Yardage List: Vinny Testaverde needs 204 passing yards to surpass Johnny Unitas for seventh on the NFL's all-time passing list. Testaverde, too, needs five TD passes to reach 250 for his career. Vinny Testaverde, one of the senior members of the Jets' locker room, doesn't believe the team is done. "I know the guys in this locker room and what they have inside of them and how we're going to fight back," Testaverde said. "That's the one big thing that's on our side. We know we have the ability to fight back and come back from an 0-2 start." [New York Post] ...That's the same formula the Pats hope to employ today against Testaverde. It just won't be as easy. While approaching his 40th birthday and at the end of the professional line, the Jets quarterback is playing the position much better than McNabb. Through two weeks, Testaverde has completed 64 percent of his passes with an average of 7 yards per attempt. The problem has been the lack of scoring production. He threw for over 350 yards a week ago against Miami but the Jets still scored only 10 points. Don't look for any "Belichick is in his head" angles to this game. In his days with Cleveland, Baltimore and the Jets, Testaverde is 6-7 against the Patriots. In games against Belichick's defense, he's 3-3 with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. "You tell me he's 40 years old and I know he is," Belichick said this week. "But you put on the film from four or five years ago and you see him doing the same things he's doing now. "I know this: Vinny can make every throw he needs to make. He's got a touch. He can throw the long balls. He can put air on it and he can put it on a string. "I don't think his game has any shortcomings." [Boston Herald] Old Hurricane Vinny Testaverde, pushing 40, clocked 40,000 passing yards last week, and here's what it got him: the strong likelihood he'll be the only member of that rare club with no chance at Canton. Of eight previous club members, Dan Fouts, Joe Montana, Fran Tarkenton and Johnny Unitas already are in the Hall of Fame; retirees John Elway and Dan Marino are mortal locks, along with active-Packer Brett Favre; and retired Warren Moon has at least a credible chance. (The next 40K man probably will be a guy slinging in Miami on Sunday, Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe -- now at 34,560 at age 31 -- and he has plenty of time to still get up into that good-shot category with Moon.) As for Vinny? Sorry. Sir Jet's overall excellence has not matched his longevity. "I haven't heard anyone discussing him in Hall of Fame terms, and don't expect to," The Herald's Edwin Pope, a Hall voter, tells Insider. "A remote chance, at best." [Miami Herald] When Vinny Testaverde and Bill Belichick walk onto the field Sunday in Foxboro, no introduction will be necessary. No coach in the NFL knows Testaverde better than Belichick does. With the possible exception of Buffalo's Drew Bledsoe, no quarterback has had more exposure to Belichick's twisted defensive mind than Testaverde. "He will bring things, and just when you think you've got them pinpointed, he'll change things," Testaverde said. "... That's why he's such a great coach, because he's able to do that with his players and get them to understand it and be successful doing it." [Newsday] September 15 - Vinny Reaches 40,000 Yards During Loss:
It was the most hollow of records, particularly for a team player like Vinny Testaverde.
Still, Testaverde's 373 yards passing yesterday on 29-of-45 passing allowed him to eclipse the career 40,000-yard barrier, something only eight other quarterbacks in NFL history have accomplished. When pressed for positives, the Jets pointed to Testaverde's performance. While the 39-year-old backup quarterback -- filling in for injured Chad Pennington -- couldn't win the game, he showed improvement and less rust. The last time he threw for this much yardage was Oct. 23, 2000, when he passed for 378 yards in an overtime victory against the Dolphins. Testaverde took just 21 snaps in preseason and was held out of the final preseason game as a precaution. Yesterday, he was sharp at the start, completing six of eight passes for 82 yards in the Jets' opening drive -- capped by a 30-yard field goal by Doug Brien. Testaverde also hit wide receiver Santana Moss for a 32-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also connected with Moss on a 61-yarder and surpassed the 40,000-yard passing mark for his career. The Jets used more of their spread offense (three and four wide receivers), which Testaverde likes, and in the second half, a frustrated Edwards instructed offensive coordinator Paul Hackett to just throw the ball because the running game was a nonfactor. "I felt like I got better from where I was last week," Testaverde said. "I felt like in the passing game, we took a step towards getting better. Hopefully, now that we had a good, solid performance in the passing game, we'll be able to keep defenses off-balanced and be able to run the ball a little better." [NJ Star-Ledger] "I think we need to look inside," Vinny Testaverde said, "and find 60 minutes of passionate football." [NY Daily News] September 9 - Play Better:
The Jets attempted only one long pass (incomplete). Yesterday, Testaverde indicated that four other plays were designed to go deep, but that he checked down to short passes based on his reads. Vinny Testaverde attempted only one deep pass, an incompletion for Santana Moss on a post route in the second quarter. It was the one throw that Testaverde said he wishes he could take back. On replays, it appeared the ball slipped out of Testaverde's hand, preventing him from leading Moss for what Testaverde and the coaches believe would have been a touchdown. "We're continuing to work on getting where we want to be," Testaverde said. "And we're a lot closer than I believe that it appeared to be on Thursday night." September 5 - Various First Game Notes & Quotes:
"We need to play better," Testaverde said. "We have to be more efficient, and I think that will come." The Jets completed four third-down passes that fell short of first downs. The receivers appeared to cut off their routes too soon, but Hackett blamed Testaverde. "Inexcusable stuff," he said. "You have to be able to deliver the ball and give the receiver an opportunity to get the first down." Vinny Testaverde, 39, the fourth-oldest starting quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, was understandably rusty after taking only 21 snaps in the preseason. The whole operation was out of sync, evidenced by three third-down completions that ended a yard or two shy of the first-down marker. "You definitely have to be out there practicing, no matter how long you've played," Testaverde said, alluding to his limited preseason. "You have to see it live. But there's nothing you can do about it. You can't make excuses." [NY Daily News] September 4 - The Intimidator:
With the Dolphins and Patriots coming up the next two weeks, the Jets can't afford to lose to the improved, but still-flawed Redskins. Ah, but if they win the opener on national TV, the rest of the league can look at them and say, 'Uh-oh, they're going to be trouble this year,'" Testaverde said. "It's somewhat of an intimidation factor." Vinny Testaverde is ready to match Patrick Ramsey and the Redskins long ball for long ball if necessary. "The deep route is a big part of this whole system, not just what the route is but how to run it," said Testaverde, the 39-year-old quarterback holding the offensive fort until Chad Pennington can return from his broken wrist. "We're doing a better job than ever of running the deep route, and yeah, we're going to try to throw them during the season." "We're going to use the entire offense. We're not going to be limited whether I'm in there or Chad's in there," Testaverde said. "It's going to be a big challenge, no question about it. But I can say I'm definitely up for it." "I know everybody is writing us off, but we'll see," said quarterback Vinny Testaverde, 39, who is a year older than the Redskins' owner. "Maybe that will be the motivation for this team. Maybe that will be the intangible to get us where we want to go." A lot will depend on Testaverde, who makes his 183rd career start and his fifth straight opening-day start for the Jets - but his first start since last Sept. 29. Discounting injuries, it has been the longest non-starting stretch in his 17-year career. That, combined with limited work in the preseason, makes him a question mark, especially against Washington's talented cornerbacks, Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot. "It's like old times," said running back Curtis Martin, entering his sixth season with Testaverde. "Vinny hasn't been out of the loop just because he hasn't been the starting quarterback." [NY Daily News] September 2 - More On Vinny:
"Everyone in this locker room is not down because they know what Vinny is capable of," Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae said. "We're disappointed that Chad is injured, but we know that we are going to do fine with Vinny. We have all the confidence in him." September 1 - Chad Speaks On Vinny:
Before Testaverde has thrown a regular-season pass, he and Pennington were asked today what would happen if the Jets were winning when Pennington was ready to return. Would Testaverde step down willingly? Would Pennington expect his old job back? ...Not surprisingly, Pennington strongly endorsed Testaverde as being able to get the job done. "I think our attitude would be a little bit different if we didn't have someone like Vinny," he said yesterday. "I'm really excited about him getting a chance to come in and lead this team like he has in the past. He's been a very successful quarterback and I don't see a change in that." [NY Daily News] August 29 - Vinny Another No-Show In Final Pre-Season Game:
Vinny Testaverde was supposed to start and stay in for about 10 plays, but Jets coach Herman Edwards chose not to risk an injury to the 39-year-old, and went with Blackwell and Todd Husak. Testaverde, who signed a five-year, incentive-laden contract last year, could triple his salary now that he's the starter again. His base salary is $1 million, but he can make an additional $5.5 million with incentives. Realistically, he probably will earn in the neighborhood of $3 million to $4 million (mostly in playing-time incentives), according to someone familiar with the contract. Pennington, making $5.25 million this season, is signed through 2004, but the hope was to sign him to an extension before next season. Now, who knows? [NY Daily News] August 28 - Joe Namath Throws His Support Behind Vinny:
From the most famous Jet to the newest Jet, yesterday was about regrouping behind their oldest active player as well as starting the new season on an upbeat note. August 27 - Phil Simms Believes:
Chad Pennington is out for 12 weeks or so with a broken wrist, and the overall tone among the fans and the media is the Jets' season is over. They have no chance. Vinny Testaverde, the Jets' starting quarterback now that Pennington is out with a wrist injury, will stay in for about 10 plays. "He's played a lot of football," Jets coach Herman Edwards said of Testaverde, a 17-year veteran. "I don't know if he needs to play a lot. Once you learn how to ride a bicycle you know how to ride it. He just has to get on the bike and pedal it." Marquel Blackwell and Todd Husak will follow Testaverde. Jamie Martin, signed on Wednesday, won't play. Current backup Brooks Bollinger is out with a knee injury. Testaverde hopes his short outing will be a productive one. "Any time one of your main players gets hurt, there's a little bit of an uneasy feeling," Testaverde said. "It's important for me to play well and be consistent to put everybody's mind at ease." [Associated Press] WR Jonathan Carter showed off his speed by catching a Vinny Testaverde pass and running away from the defense for a touchdown. Carter could make the roster as a fifth receiver. ... WR Wayne Chrebet pulled in a long bomb from Testaverde in drills. [NJ Star-Ledger]< |