Vinny Testaverde: A story that never gets old
By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer
Published October 21, 2007
Vinny Testaverde had finally accepted that he was retired. A 20-year career had ended, and he was coming to grips with his new life as a dad on Long Island, N.Y., his only involvement in sports driving his three children to soccer games.
It lasted all of 45 minutes.
Testaverde came off the couch just a month shy of his 44th birthday, without throwing a football for five weeks, to start his first NFL game in two years last weekend and lead Carolina to a 25-10 win over Arizona.
He looked pretty good, completing 20 of 33 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown.
"I take a lot of pride in staying in shape and being able to play at 43," Testaverde said. "Of all the things I've done in my career, this will always be one of my greatest memories and accomplishment."
But the story begins with an ending and ends with a beginning. One phone call led to one of the wildest weeks in league history.
Two Sundays ago, Testaverde was watching the Jets-Giants New York rivalry in his living room.
He had been cut by New England on Sept. 1, but figured the Patriots might give him a call by Week 8 or so if they had an injury or needed a No. 3 quarterback, just like they did a year ago.
Other than that, he was slowly adjusting to life away from football.
Then the phone rang. Matt Leinart had broken his collarbone and Arizona needed a backup for Kurt Warner.
It was John Lott, the strength and conditioning coach with the Cardinals whom Testaverde knew from his days with the Jets. The Cardinals were in contention for a division title and Testaverde was intrigued.
"I talked to Ken Whisenhunt," Testaverde said of Arizona's first-year coach, "and before the end of the night they called my people and we worked out a contract. I had a car that was scheduled to pick me up at 4:30 in the morning and take me to the airport. But I woke up around 4 a.m. and realized I just couldn't do it. It was just too far. I couldn't leave my family. I wouldn't be able to come home on days off.
"Later that morning, I called the Cardinals and told them I couldn't do it. It wasn't anything against their organization. It was a personal decision."
For the next 45 minutes, Testaverde again contemplated life without football. His wife, Mitzi, had taken his daughters - Madeleine, 5, and Alicia, 16 - and son Vincent Jr., 11, to school and he was alone with his thoughts.
Then the phone rang. It was Carolina strength and conditioning coach Jerry Simmons, whom Testaverde knew from his days with Cleveland and Baltimore. Panthers quarterback David Carr was injured.
"I just started laughing," said Testaverde, who played his first six seasons for the Bucs after being the No. 1 overall pick out of Miami in 1987. "I knew that would work. It's less than a two-hour flight from my home. But I felt bad because I had looked at the schedule and I knew the Panthers were playing the Cardinals. I felt bad because I had already said no to the Cardinals, but this was right for me and my family."
Testaverde was supposed to be in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 9, but his flight was delayed. So he left the next day. By the time he got to the Panthers complex, the team was on the field. He was given his equipment, dressed and hurried onto the practice field. Without any introductions, they gave Testaverde a play and he headed into the huddle with the first-team offense.
"I remembered a lot of the offense from the days I played for former Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning when I was with the Jets. I had three different coordinators up there so they were all rolling around in my head. But I was able to run the plays."
After just three days of practice, Testaverde got the start in Arizona because Carr's back continued to bother him.
"I knew we had a good defense and my focus was just on not turning the ball over and completing passes," Testaverde said. "I knew if I didn't make many mistakes, we'd have a chance."
With the Panthers trailing 10-9 and just more than five minutes left, Testaverde noticed the Cardinals were playing a single safety. He let the ball fly to receiver Steve Smith.
"I had followed the Panthers and, of course, everybody knows about No. 89," Testaverde said. "He's a great receiver. Of course I was looking for him."
The result was a 65-yard touchdown.
"The whole week was just amazing," Testaverde said. "I credit my being able to play at 43 with the way I work out and stay in shape."
After the game, his daughter Alicia told him he still has it.
"She can appreciate that other than maybe a kicker, I'm the oldest player in the league," he said, laughing.
The rest of the NFL is smiling with him.
Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com.