Vinny: Looks Like A Cowboy - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Lord Sun · 05-31-2004

DAVE HUTCHINSON, Star-Ledger

Keyshawn Johnson was vacationing in Las Vegas yesterday, but he wasn't getting a bet down on Vinny Testaverde joining the Dallas Cowboys. Probably couldn't get odds on that. Many see it as a done deal.

Today -- or soon -- Testaverde's six-year career with the Jets will come to an end. He'll be one of the veterans around the league who will become June 1 salary-cap casualties, and Testaverde, 40, is expected to sign with the Cowboys. If so, he will be reunited with former Jets coach Bill Parcells and former Jets wide receiver Johnson.

"Hopefully, it'll work out," Johnson said yesterday. "It would be fun to be reunited with Vinny whether he's a starter or a backup. The prospect of him maybe coming to the Cowboys isn't only good for our team but for our young quarterbacks, Quincy Carter and Drew Henson. They could learn a lot from him."

In 1998, Testaverde had a career year, throwing a club-record 29 touchdowns while leading the Jets to the AFC title game. Johnson caught 83 passes for 1,131 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"I thought we had great chemistry," Johnson said.

Upon releasing Testaverde, the Jets will take a $3.5 million cap hit this season and $4 million in 2005. On June 1, teams can cut veterans who are under contract and spread the salary cap hit over two years.

Testaverde, a 17-year veteran, led the Jets to two postseason berths. His record as the Jets starter is 34-23.

Last season, Testaverde was pressed into duty following a preseason injury to starter Chad Pennington and was 2-5 as a starter. Rusty after throwing just 21 passes in the preseason, he struggled early but rebounded to complete 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,385 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions. He had a 90.6 passer rating.

Following the season, the Jets expressed an interest in keeping Testaverde but wanted him to be the third quarterback behind second-year pro Brooks Bollinger. Testaverde said he didn't want to be a third-stringer and was excused from the team's off-season workouts.

ddh33 · 05-31-2004

Sounds like a done deal. But didn't Keyshawn say that a long time ago. Now, the only question is what his role will be...

The other interesting thing to me is hearing Keyshawn say that the young QBs (Carter and Henson) can learn a lot from him. Why was Romo left out?

jacs · 05-31-2004

why not bring him as a QB coach?

**Sarge** · 06-01-2004

I happen to think it's a done deal. It's a good thing for a variety of reasons.

Ultimately though, Henson is the future.

**MichaelWinicki** · 06-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

I happen to think it's a done deal. It's a good thing for a variety of reasons.

Ultimately though, Henson is the future.

My god a 62% completion percentage... haven't seen numbers like that around here in quite a while.

**Sarge** · 06-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelWinicki

My god a 62% completion percentage... haven't seen numbers like that around here in quite a while.

Sad isn't it.

mcnuttz · 06-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddh33

Sounds like a done deal. But didn't Keyshawn say that a long time ago. Now, the only question is what his role will be...

Perhaps he & Hutch can approach Parcells about this.

cowboyfan4life_mark · 06-01-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacs

why not bring him as a QB coach?

Ya know, I have thought of the same thing. I know Payton handles this duty but why bring Vinny in, as a QB, for basically the same thing and take a chance on losing Romo off of the practice squad?