Lawless
All About Brad!
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Registered: Jun 2003
Local time: 11:38 PM
Location: Freezing in Colorado
Posts: 27143
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(June 3, 2004) -- What you need to understand, first, about Vinny Testaverde is that he still can hold his own as a quarterback in the NFL.
I'm not just talking about looking good in a uniform as he carries a clipboard on the sidelines. I'm not just talking about being able to thoroughly understand an offense or help younger quarterbacks on his team thoroughly understand it as well.
I'm not just talking about serving as a glorified coach in shoulder pads.
At 40 years old, Testaverde still can perform the single-most important function of an NFL quarterback, which is throwing a football exceptionally well. He was blessed with a powerful and talented arm that remains in top working order. He keeps himself in tremendous physical condition, which gives him the strength and stamina to compete with players nearly half his age. He has yet to reach the point that even the toughest quarterbacks eventually reach, consciously or subconsciously -- when the pocket becomes a place they dread more than relish. He maintains the sort of competitive edge that has zero tolerance for losing or complacency.
Those are the main reasons the Dallas Cowboys signed Testaverde to a one-year contract. Erase two, or even one of them, and it is unlikely he would have been offered the chance to continue his playing career after the New York Jets sent him packing.
Bill Parcells, the Cowboys' coach, is hardly treating Testaverde as some sort of charity case because of any fondness he has for him dating back to when Parcells coached the Jets and Testaverde led them to the doorstep of the Super Bowl in 1998. Even Parcells' heart has its share of soft spots, but he has never been known for allowing sentiment to cloud his personnel evaluations. Either a player can play and contribute on the field or he doesn't have a spot on the Tuna's ship. Parcells is convinced Testaverde can play and contribute on the field.
I am not suggesting Parcells is caught in some sort of time warp and truly believes that Testaverde can put up the same staggering numbers over a full season that he did with the Jets a half-dozen years ago. But I also don't think he would rule that out. When Parcells sends any player onto the field, he does not set limits. And when he sends a quarterback onto the field, he expects the signal-caller to be able to at least attempt aggressive throws deep down the field, even at the occasional risk of a turnover.
Parcells knows that Testaverde is capable of delivering such passes. Parcells knows that Testaverde has an excellent grasp of his offensive philosophy and concept.
Testaverde wants to start, and just might get that chance this season. He represents the only accomplished quarterback the Cowboys have, which isn't saying much considering that Quincy Carter and NFL Europe-allocated Chad Hutchinson are still finding their way at the position, Tony Romo didn't see the field last year as a rookie, and Drew Henson is an NFL newcomer.
Beyond the capacity to handle the starting job, Testaverde has other important qualities that made him particularly attractive to the Cowboys. He can and will serve as a good mentor to Carter and the other young quarterbacks on the team, just as he did with Chad Pennington in New York. He can and will help his successor, whomever he might be, develop and be ready to take the reins possibly as soon as 2005. He can and will help spread and reinforce the football gospel according to Parcells throughout the locker room.
And by his very presence, Testaverde can do something else: Enhance the uneasy atmosphere that Parcells always establishes throughout his team, and especially at quarterback. Besides the million other concerns that go with playing the position, you should never feel too comfortable about your security. You should always look over your shoulder.
Playing for Parcells is all about pressure. Can you handle it? Can you overcome it? Can you channel it so that it pushes you to greater heights?
Testaverde understands that as well as anyone on the planet, and better than many of his new teammates. His example is an important addition to the Cowboys ... but only because he can still play.
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:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<::: |
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06-14-2004 08:31 PM
