Bluefin
02-16-2005, 07:00 PM
Jean-Jacques Taylor: The future shouldn't include Vinny
07:44 PM CST on Tuesday, February 15, 2005
I like Vinny Testaverde.
He's a nice guy. He's a standup player who takes the blame when he should. And he's a good teammate.
But I wouldn't sign him – I don't care what the price is – until after June, if then. If he signs with someone such as the Jets before that, then I wish him well.
At this point of his career, Testaverde is just a guy.
There will be games he takes your breath away with his ability to throw the football. And there will be games when he has you shaking your head because you can't believe a 41-year-old quarterback made such a poor decision.
He's the antithesis of what coach Bill Parcells wants in a quarterback. Parcells wants a conservative player who doesn't make mistakes and allows the players around him to make big plays. Testaverde is capable of winning and losing a game within the span of a couple of plays.
He tied for the league lead with 20 interceptions. He threw an interception in eight straight games during one stretch last season.
But he also set a franchise record with three 300-yard games in one season.
Drew Henson is the biggest reason why Testaverde shouldn't be signed. The Cowboys seem to think Henson can be their quarterback of the future.
They love his size and work ethic in addition to his attitude. If they think he's the guy, then you can't bring Testaverde back.
That's because the first time Henson makes a costly mistake, it will be too easy for Parcells to look at Testaverde on the sideline and convince himself to go with the veteran.
It's human nature.
When Parcells asks himself each week who gives the Cowboys the best chance to win, he's always going to answer Testaverde.
And he should.
Testaverde has played his best football under Parcells. The coach respects his approach to the game, mentally and physically.
And he can never forget how Testaverde had 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 1998. Parcells always thinks he can get Testaverde to produce like that again, but he can't. That's because it was an aberration.
It was a great season in a long and productive career. There's nothing, however, to suggest Testaverde can do that again.
He's a good man, but there's just no room in Dallas for him.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: Do you think the Cowboys should go with front seven or secondary help in the draft? It seems like a no-brainer to me that you need front seven pressure to create turnovers
Joe Stables, East Windsor, N.J.
TAYLOR: You make a good point, but the front seven is useless if the corners can't cover and guys are running free in the secondary. I've said this before: The Cowboys need good players. I don't care if they play in the front seven or the secondary. Dallas needs guys who can rush the passer, intercept passes and make big plays when given an opportunity.
• • •
Q: The Seahawks are talking to Scott Pioli, Parcells' son-in-law and the architect of New England's amassing of talent. Why aren't we talking to him about a job?
Sean Carvajal, San Antonio
TAYLOR: Maybe he doesn't want to work here. He's worked with Parcells before, so he certainly knows how hard he is on people. On a larger note, Pioli has told everyone that he's going to stay with the Patriots until his contract expires. He turned down a $15 million deal from Seattle, and I haven't read anything that says he's interested in leaving. If he does, he's going to a place where he can have complete control of the football operations. That's never going to happen in a family-run business such as the Cowboys, though Parcells has more control than anyone since Jimmy Johnson.
• • •
Q: No Cowboys are going to make the Hall of Fame until Jerry Jones puts them in the Ring of Honor. What do you think?
Joe Sparkman, Whitehouse, Texas
TAYLOR: I understand your anger, but I view that as a convenient excuse. Guys are either worthy of the Hall of Fame or they aren't. The Ring of Honor has little to do with it other than putting one more mark in a particular player's favor. There's a Hall of Fame bias against the Cowboys by some petty members of the voting committee who hold old-school grudges or decide not to vote for a player because of some criteria of their own that has nothing to do with the actual bylaws.
• • •
Q: I read on ESPN.com that Jeremiah Trotter would be an unrestricted free agent this year. I couldn't help wondering whether he would he make a good acquisition for our change to the 3-4 defense?
Scott Mattson, Cheyenne, Wyo.
TAYLOR: Clearly, Trotter can play. He's a physical presence who could certainly help the Cowboys. But he's never played in a 3-4. He has, I believe, bad knees, and this was his best performance in 2-3 years. I can't break the bank for a guy with that many question marks. I can give him an incentive-laden deal to make sure he remains motivated, but I would be leery of giving him extraordinary dollars. He has free-agent bust written all over him.
• • •
Q: Can Drew Henson have the season Ben Roethlisberger had, if all of these pieces come into place?
Jonathan Hazel
TAYLOR: Yes he can. Will that happen? I don't think so. You just can't gloss over the fact that he really hasn't played in four seasons and that he's started only nine games since his senior year in high school. No doubt, he has the tools, but it will take him at least one full season of making mistakes and showing flashes of promise before you have any idea whether he can play in the NFL. You can't rush it. Only time will tell.
• • •
Q: Assuming Pete Hunter is healthy next season, have the Cowboys considered moving him to free safety? He did play safety in college, and there is a chance that he could be a very good safety as opposed to an average cornerback.
Tony Haber, Duncanville
TAYLOR: I'm sure that has been talked about. The biggest question is whether he could tackle well enough to play safety. He's an average tackler at cornerback, which means he could have more liabilities at safety. You can't have a poor tackler at safety – we saw what happened with Tony Dixon last year – because it creates too many possibilities for big plays in the running game.
• • •
Q: Do you feel that the game has passed by Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells?
Chuck Ferreira, Boston
TAYLOR: That's too strong a statement. I think Jerry has done everything he's supposed to do. He has given control of the franchise to a football guy and has stayed out of the way. Everything that happens – good or bad – is the result of decisions that Parcells has made. I don't think the game has passed him by. He still knows what it takes to win in the NFL. The question is whether guys still listen to his message. Better yet, whether enough guys listen to his message to make it relevant.
• • •
Q: What do you think about drafting USC receiver Mike Williams?
Chad Tidwell, Osan AB, R.O. Korea
TAYLOR: That wouldn't bother me at all. Dallas needs playmakers on both sides of the ball. If he runs fast enough to be drafted that high, then I'm all for it. The only question is whether he's going to be able to stretch the field and make plays downfield or whether he has to be more of an H-back type. I'm not paying big dollars for that.
• • •
Q: The Cowboys had six Pro Bowlers, which is a lot for a team with a losing record. How did they have so many?
Ron Guerra, Santa Monica, Calif.
TAYLOR: I only had a problem with one of the four Pro Bowl players voted into the game. Jason Witten, Larry Allen and La'Roi Glover all had good seasons and deserved their honor. Roy Williams was average the first 12 games and much better the last four games. His reputation earned him a spot in the game. Jeff Robinson, the deep snapper, was added because they needed a player at that position and Flozell Adams was added because of an injury. The Cowboys had good players and below-average players. They didn't have enough solid starters. That's one reason they had four guys voted into the Pro Bowl.
• • •
Q: What are your thoughts about signing Matt Hasselbeck?
Tim Rubio, San Jose, Calif.
TAYLOR: He's another guy I'm not breaking the bank to sign. Besides, if you sign him – he's not coming for less than a five-year deal and $15 million up front – then it means you've given up on Drew Henson. Hasselbeck is a good NFL starter, but he's not an elite player. You can sign him, but you have to be careful.
07:44 PM CST on Tuesday, February 15, 2005
I like Vinny Testaverde.
He's a nice guy. He's a standup player who takes the blame when he should. And he's a good teammate.
But I wouldn't sign him – I don't care what the price is – until after June, if then. If he signs with someone such as the Jets before that, then I wish him well.
At this point of his career, Testaverde is just a guy.
There will be games he takes your breath away with his ability to throw the football. And there will be games when he has you shaking your head because you can't believe a 41-year-old quarterback made such a poor decision.
He's the antithesis of what coach Bill Parcells wants in a quarterback. Parcells wants a conservative player who doesn't make mistakes and allows the players around him to make big plays. Testaverde is capable of winning and losing a game within the span of a couple of plays.
He tied for the league lead with 20 interceptions. He threw an interception in eight straight games during one stretch last season.
But he also set a franchise record with three 300-yard games in one season.
Drew Henson is the biggest reason why Testaverde shouldn't be signed. The Cowboys seem to think Henson can be their quarterback of the future.
They love his size and work ethic in addition to his attitude. If they think he's the guy, then you can't bring Testaverde back.
That's because the first time Henson makes a costly mistake, it will be too easy for Parcells to look at Testaverde on the sideline and convince himself to go with the veteran.
It's human nature.
When Parcells asks himself each week who gives the Cowboys the best chance to win, he's always going to answer Testaverde.
And he should.
Testaverde has played his best football under Parcells. The coach respects his approach to the game, mentally and physically.
And he can never forget how Testaverde had 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 1998. Parcells always thinks he can get Testaverde to produce like that again, but he can't. That's because it was an aberration.
It was a great season in a long and productive career. There's nothing, however, to suggest Testaverde can do that again.
He's a good man, but there's just no room in Dallas for him.
COWBOYS Q&A
Q: Do you think the Cowboys should go with front seven or secondary help in the draft? It seems like a no-brainer to me that you need front seven pressure to create turnovers
Joe Stables, East Windsor, N.J.
TAYLOR: You make a good point, but the front seven is useless if the corners can't cover and guys are running free in the secondary. I've said this before: The Cowboys need good players. I don't care if they play in the front seven or the secondary. Dallas needs guys who can rush the passer, intercept passes and make big plays when given an opportunity.
• • •
Q: The Seahawks are talking to Scott Pioli, Parcells' son-in-law and the architect of New England's amassing of talent. Why aren't we talking to him about a job?
Sean Carvajal, San Antonio
TAYLOR: Maybe he doesn't want to work here. He's worked with Parcells before, so he certainly knows how hard he is on people. On a larger note, Pioli has told everyone that he's going to stay with the Patriots until his contract expires. He turned down a $15 million deal from Seattle, and I haven't read anything that says he's interested in leaving. If he does, he's going to a place where he can have complete control of the football operations. That's never going to happen in a family-run business such as the Cowboys, though Parcells has more control than anyone since Jimmy Johnson.
• • •
Q: No Cowboys are going to make the Hall of Fame until Jerry Jones puts them in the Ring of Honor. What do you think?
Joe Sparkman, Whitehouse, Texas
TAYLOR: I understand your anger, but I view that as a convenient excuse. Guys are either worthy of the Hall of Fame or they aren't. The Ring of Honor has little to do with it other than putting one more mark in a particular player's favor. There's a Hall of Fame bias against the Cowboys by some petty members of the voting committee who hold old-school grudges or decide not to vote for a player because of some criteria of their own that has nothing to do with the actual bylaws.
• • •
Q: I read on ESPN.com that Jeremiah Trotter would be an unrestricted free agent this year. I couldn't help wondering whether he would he make a good acquisition for our change to the 3-4 defense?
Scott Mattson, Cheyenne, Wyo.
TAYLOR: Clearly, Trotter can play. He's a physical presence who could certainly help the Cowboys. But he's never played in a 3-4. He has, I believe, bad knees, and this was his best performance in 2-3 years. I can't break the bank for a guy with that many question marks. I can give him an incentive-laden deal to make sure he remains motivated, but I would be leery of giving him extraordinary dollars. He has free-agent bust written all over him.
• • •
Q: Can Drew Henson have the season Ben Roethlisberger had, if all of these pieces come into place?
Jonathan Hazel
TAYLOR: Yes he can. Will that happen? I don't think so. You just can't gloss over the fact that he really hasn't played in four seasons and that he's started only nine games since his senior year in high school. No doubt, he has the tools, but it will take him at least one full season of making mistakes and showing flashes of promise before you have any idea whether he can play in the NFL. You can't rush it. Only time will tell.
• • •
Q: Assuming Pete Hunter is healthy next season, have the Cowboys considered moving him to free safety? He did play safety in college, and there is a chance that he could be a very good safety as opposed to an average cornerback.
Tony Haber, Duncanville
TAYLOR: I'm sure that has been talked about. The biggest question is whether he could tackle well enough to play safety. He's an average tackler at cornerback, which means he could have more liabilities at safety. You can't have a poor tackler at safety – we saw what happened with Tony Dixon last year – because it creates too many possibilities for big plays in the running game.
• • •
Q: Do you feel that the game has passed by Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells?
Chuck Ferreira, Boston
TAYLOR: That's too strong a statement. I think Jerry has done everything he's supposed to do. He has given control of the franchise to a football guy and has stayed out of the way. Everything that happens – good or bad – is the result of decisions that Parcells has made. I don't think the game has passed him by. He still knows what it takes to win in the NFL. The question is whether guys still listen to his message. Better yet, whether enough guys listen to his message to make it relevant.
• • •
Q: What do you think about drafting USC receiver Mike Williams?
Chad Tidwell, Osan AB, R.O. Korea
TAYLOR: That wouldn't bother me at all. Dallas needs playmakers on both sides of the ball. If he runs fast enough to be drafted that high, then I'm all for it. The only question is whether he's going to be able to stretch the field and make plays downfield or whether he has to be more of an H-back type. I'm not paying big dollars for that.
• • •
Q: The Cowboys had six Pro Bowlers, which is a lot for a team with a losing record. How did they have so many?
Ron Guerra, Santa Monica, Calif.
TAYLOR: I only had a problem with one of the four Pro Bowl players voted into the game. Jason Witten, Larry Allen and La'Roi Glover all had good seasons and deserved their honor. Roy Williams was average the first 12 games and much better the last four games. His reputation earned him a spot in the game. Jeff Robinson, the deep snapper, was added because they needed a player at that position and Flozell Adams was added because of an injury. The Cowboys had good players and below-average players. They didn't have enough solid starters. That's one reason they had four guys voted into the Pro Bowl.
• • •
Q: What are your thoughts about signing Matt Hasselbeck?
Tim Rubio, San Jose, Calif.
TAYLOR: He's another guy I'm not breaking the bank to sign. Besides, if you sign him – he's not coming for less than a five-year deal and $15 million up front – then it means you've given up on Drew Henson. Hasselbeck is a good NFL starter, but he's not an elite player. You can sign him, but you have to be careful.