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Testaverde as Cards' backup?
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 8, 2007 01:54 PM
The Cardinals may be on the verge of turning to veteran NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde as the primary backup to starter Kurt Warner now that Matt Leinart is out indefinitely with a fractured left collarbone.
Multiple NFL sources told The Arizona Republic on Monday that Testaverde, who turns 44 next month, is on their short list of potential quarterbacks. Although his signing wasn't necessarily imminent, his experience would make him a welcome addition.
Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said he wants someone with considerable experience, and Testaverde, the first overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1987, has played in 226 career games over 20 seasons.
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Testaverde is a free agent after spending last season as a backup with the New England Patriots. He is ranked in the top 10 in NFL history in four passing categories: sixth in career passing yardage (45,281), sixth in completions (3,693), eighth in touchdown passes (270) and seventh in pass attempts (6,529).
He also has a direct link to Whisenhunt. He played with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 and the New York Jets in 2000. Whisenhunt was an assistant coach on both teams.
Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was with Testaverde during the 2004 season with the Dallas Cowboys, serving as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. That was Testaverde's last season as a full-time starter. He started 15 of 16 games and passed for 3,532 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Cowboys.
Cardinals starting center Al Johnson was Testaverde's starting center in Dallas. Johnson said Monday that bringing in Testaverde to back up Warner would be a smart move by management.
"Vinny's a real pro, he's as strong as an ox, and he's probably one of my favorite guys I've ever been around, just because of the way he handles himself, whether things were going good or things were going bad," Johnson said. "He's always the same person. He was never up and down. Whether we were getting cheered or booed, he was the same person in the huddle and he was the same person in the locker room."
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 8, 2007 01:54 PM
The Cardinals may be on the verge of turning to veteran NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde as the primary backup to starter Kurt Warner now that Matt Leinart is out indefinitely with a fractured left collarbone.
Multiple NFL sources told The Arizona Republic on Monday that Testaverde, who turns 44 next month, is on their short list of potential quarterbacks. Although his signing wasn't necessarily imminent, his experience would make him a welcome addition.
Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said he wants someone with considerable experience, and Testaverde, the first overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1987, has played in 226 career games over 20 seasons.
Testaverde is a free agent after spending last season as a backup with the New England Patriots. He is ranked in the top 10 in NFL history in four passing categories: sixth in career passing yardage (45,281), sixth in completions (3,693), eighth in touchdown passes (270) and seventh in pass attempts (6,529).
He also has a direct link to Whisenhunt. He played with the Baltimore Ravens in 1997 and the New York Jets in 2000. Whisenhunt was an assistant coach on both teams.
Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was with Testaverde during the 2004 season with the Dallas Cowboys, serving as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. That was Testaverde's last season as a full-time starter. He started 15 of 16 games and passed for 3,532 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Cowboys.
Cardinals starting center Al Johnson was Testaverde's starting center in Dallas. Johnson said Monday that bringing in Testaverde to back up Warner would be a smart move by management.
"Vinny's a real pro, he's as strong as an ox, and he's probably one of my favorite guys I've ever been around, just because of the way he handles himself, whether things were going good or things were going bad," Johnson said. "He's always the same person. He was never up and down. Whether we were getting cheered or booed, he was the same person in the huddle and he was the same person in the locker room."
