NFL

In dire need, Jets sign Vinny

By wire services
Published September 28, 2005

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Suddenly, 41-year-old Vinny Testaverde is back in the NFL.

There he was Sunday, plopped on his couch, watching his beloved New York Jets and, like millions of other fans, he could hardly believe his eyes.

In a span of seven plays, not one but two quarterbacks went down: starter Chad Pennington and backup Jay Fiedler. Out for the season. Both of them, with shoulder injuries.

There was only one thing to do.

"I called Herm and said, "I am here in whatever capacity you need me,"' Testaverde said. "To be a teacher ... or to play, to be a starter or a backup. I want to get this team back on track to where everybody expects it to be. Whatever that role is ... I feel in a good enough position to do that."

"I'm excited, happy, nervous, anxious, all those feelings about playing for the Jets again," he said.

With Pennington and Fiedler gone with shoulder injuries, Testaverde likely was signed to back up untested Brooks Bollinger. Considering Bollinger's inexperience and the way Pennington and Fiedler were battered in the 26-20 overtime loss to Jacksonville, seeing Testaverde behind center soon - a cruel joke a week ago - isn't farfetched.

"Right now, Vinny is not starting, he is not running out of the tunnel in Baltimore being the starter," Edwards said. "He is going to be standing next to me. Brooks is starting. From there, we will see."

What Edwards and Testaverde saw Sunday was something they may never see again in the NFL.

Pennington came out of the game late in the third quarter with a tender right shoulder, but went back in when Fiedler dislocated his right shoulder after six plays. Pennington, who underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in February, had little on his throws, and an MRI exam Monday revealed another tear in the rotator cuff.

"I anticipate he will be out for the season," Edwards said of Pennington. "I've never been in the situation where you lose the No. 1 and 2 quarterbacks in a span of seven plays."

The Jets play host to the Bucs on Oct. 9.

Chiefs embarrassed by Broncos, embittered by Bailey's remarks

Thanks to Champ Bailey and Monday Night Football microphones, the Kansas City Chiefs should be well motivated for their next game against the Denver Broncos.

First, the Chiefs were embarrassed 30-10, one of their worst losses in a long and often-bitter AFC West rivalry.

Then they found out that while the rout was taking place, the Broncos' star defensive back accused them on national television of not even playing hard.

"The way they played up there in Kansas City, it ain't the same, though," said Bailey, who was miked by ABC.

Speaking to teammates on the Denver bench after the Broncos had taken control of the game in the first half at Denver's INVESCO Field, Bailey was clearly heard to say, "They're playing a little different. They're not playing as hard. I ain't going to relax, though."

"I know this - none of our players said Champ Bailey didn't play hard when we beat them by three touchdowns last year out here," coach Dick Vermeil said Tuesday. "Eddie Kennison (Chiefs receiver) didn't say that Champ Bailey was not playing hard."

Vermeil tried to downplay Bailey's remarks, but was clearly irritated.

"That's why I don't allow players to be miked. I don't know what (Bailey) was referring to. That's a player's opinion," he said.

PATS LOSE HARRISON: New England safety Rodney Harrison will miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his left knee. He placed on injured reserve, and agent Steve Feldman said Harrison, 32, is expected to undergo surgery in four to six weeks for a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament.

TITANS: Quarterback Matt Mauck was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad to avoid losing him. Mauck, who was available to any team, was at the airport Monday preparing to fly to New York where the Jets needed healthy quarterbacks.

49ers: Wide receiver Rashaun Woods was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury, ending a second straight disappointing season for the team's former No. 1 draft pick.

[Last modified September 28, 2005, 02:30:38]