New York-native Testaverde: 'I’d be happy if 9/11 had never happened'

The death of Osama bin Laden brought back sad memories for Vinny Testaverde, who was the Jets quarterback during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Testaverde, who grew up in Long Island, was outspoken and adamant that the NFL should not play games the weekend following the attacks. The league eventually agreed with Testaverde, postponing Week 2, and moving all of those games to that season’s final week.

"There were people saying we should get right back to doing what we do, but I disagreed," Testaverde said during a Monday telephone interview with Sporting News. "I thought somebody needed to stand up and say, `This is a tragedy, we need time to reflect.’ Where my kids were going to school, there were some families who had lost family members. There were people I knew growing up, who knew people that had been affected. It really hit home. I may have felt it more than some of the other players who weren’t from New York like me. I felt it was my responsibility to stand up and say something. Whether that had any impact on the league’s decision or not, I’m still proud that I stood up for what I believed.’’

Herm Edwards, now an ESPN analyst, was the Jets coach at the time. The night before the attacks, Edwards said he remembers looking out the window of his car and seeing the Twin Towers for the last time, as he returned home from picking up someone at Newark Airport. The next morning, Edwards said he was in his office at the Jets practice facility at Hofstra University, engrossed in watching film, unaware of what had taken place until he decided to turn on the television.

"I had the volume on silent at first, but then I looked at the screen," Edwards said. "It was just a hard day. Then the next day, the players came back for practice on Wednesday. I walked in the room and they had that look on their faces. I had that look, too. We went out and tried to get some work done, but it was ugly. And I couldn’t get after them. It was just bigger than football. America had been attacked.

"I mean, I had passed a parking lot where people had left their cars and caught the train for work, and those same cars were still sitting there. All kinds of things went through your mind. So I just gathered the team and told them, `Those you love the most, you need to call them. If you’ve got children, you need to hug them.’ It just wasn’t about football. It was way, way, bigger than that, and everybody knew it. Our football team was not ready to play."

Testaverde said news of bin Laden’s death has caused him to reflect.

"What’s happened in the last 24 hours has brought a lot of people satisfaction,’’ Testaverde said. "But it doesn’t make me happy that he’s dead. Satisfied? Yes. But I’d be happy if 9/11 had never happened, as would millions of other people. We can’t change that. We have to move forward. But at least for some of the families that have suffered, maybe it adds a little closure to their life."

When the news about bin Laden’s death broke, Testaverde was at his Tampa-area home, watching TV.

"It was satisfying to know there is one less evil person we have to worry about," said Testaverde.

The league plans to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks on that day, with a schedule that includes the Giants visiting the Redskins, and the Jets hosting the Cowboys, assuming the season begins as scheduled.

"I don't have any involvement with the NFL anymore, other than being a fan," Testaverde said. "So I don't know all the details. But I hope we get back to playing football. And I hope that come Sept. 11, the league will take a moment and reflect back."

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(sportingnews.com)