Former Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as part of its 2013 class, a National Football Foundation representative announced Monday on "College Football Live."

Testaverde was 23-3 as a starter for the Hurricanes. During his senior season in 1986, Testaverde won the Heisman Trophy and was a unanimous first-team All-American. He led Miami to three straight bowl games, and finished his collegiate career with 6,000-plus passing yards and 48 touchdown passes.

Testaverde went No. 1 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL draft. He played professionally for 21 years and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

"Congrats to one of the greatest #Canes of all-time, QB Vinny Testaverde, who will be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame," tweeted current Hurricanes coach Al Golden.

The rest of the class, which will include a total of 12 players and two coaches, will be announced Tuesday. The induction ceremony will occur Dec. 10 in New York City.


(espn.com)

Vinny Testaverde, a part-time quarterback instructor at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., held clandestine workouts earlier this month with another former Jets quarterback -- Tim Tebow.

The two former Heisman Trophy winners worked out for a week at a Tampa-area high school, where Testaverde focused on improving Tebow's footwork. He felt Tebow had made significant strides, so he was bummed Monday to learn the Jets had released the famous backup.

"I was kind of disappointed because I was hoping he'd get a chance to show the coaches what we worked on," Testaverde told ESPNNewYork.com. "I think they would've been impressed if they had compared this year to last year."

Testaverde and former NFL QB Chris Weinke, one of the top instructors at IMG, evaluated Tebow last month. Testaverde and Weinke "speak the same quarterback language," as Testaverde put it, because they both played under Dan Henning, a former Jets and Panthers coordinator.

"Chris and I looked at Tim careful and we were both amazed," Testaverde said. "Everybody has been focusing on his throwing motion, trying to fix that, but nobody had picked up his footwork. His footwork was all screwed up. Chris and I looked at each other after about four or five throws, and we saw the same thing. We got his footwork fixed. His throwing motion is now a non-issue.

"He throws with what we call 'effortless power.' He doesn't have that elongated motion anymore and his head isn't moving 2 1/2 feet when he throws it."

Asked to explain Tebow's footwork flaws in layman's terms, Testaverde said "he was stepping in the wrong direction when he was throwing the football."

Two weeks after the initial session at IMG, Testaverde and Tebow met every day for a week at Jesuit High School, where Testaverde is an assistant coach. They held the sessions during school hours to avoid a scene. They worked alone on the field, enjoying the privacy. One day, they were recognized by a student looking out a lunch-room window. The student tweeted it and it was picked up by a local sports network, creating headlines.

Testaverde said he enjoyed his time with Tebow. They actually worked together briefly a couple of years ago. This time, Tebow's brother, Robby, reached out to him, asking if he could tutor Tim again.

Even though everyone in the football world knew Tebow's days with the Jets were numbered, he was "excited" to report to the offseason program two weeks ago, according to Testaverde.

"He's a positive and confident individual, and he was feeling good about learning the new stuff," Testaverde said. "He was hoping for the opportunity to showcase his abilities. So was I. Hopefully, he gets that chance somewhere else."


(espn.com)

TAMPA -- Former Heisman Trophy winner and Florida Gators star Tim Tebow worked out privately at Jesuit High School on Monday, Jesuit public relations director Pete Young confirmed to BHSN.

Tebow, the backup quarterback for the New York Jets, spent the afternoon at Jesuit's football facilities, working out with former Jets quarterback and current Tigers' QB coach Vinny Testaverde, also a one-time Heisman Trophy winner.

"He was doing a private workout with Vinny Testaverde at some point in the middle of the day," Young said. "For the record, it did happen."

Tebow has spent the offseason working on his delivery and throwing motion, something he's been criticized for since he was drafted out of Florida in 2010. He's been a frequent visitor to the Bay area over the last couple of weeks, working with former Florida State and NFL QB Chris Weinke at his quarterback school, IMG Academy, in Bradenton last week.

Tebow is expected to attend Jets voluntary offseason workouts on Monday, but reportedly will be released after the draft.

This isn't the first time Tebow has made a stop at Jesuit. He worked out at the school in March.


(baynews9.com)

Four Heisman Trophy winners highlight the 77 candidates and five coaches on this year’s College Football Hall of Fame Ballot released Tuesday afternoon.

Former Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde and former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel joined former Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne and former Nebraska quarterback Eric Couch as past winners of the Heisman Trophy who are up for selection into the HOF.

Some other notable names on the ballot are former Miami defensive tackle Jerome Brown, former UNLV punter Randall Cunningham, former SMU running back Eric Dickerson and former Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth.

On the coaching side, Jim Carlen (WVU, Texas Tech, South Carolina); Wayne Hardin (Navy, Temple); Bill McCartney (Colorado); Billy Jack Murphy (Memphis) and Darryl Rogers (Cal State Hayward, Fresno State, San Jose State, Michigan State and Arizona State).

The Hall of Fame class will be announced live in New York City during a noon press conference on May 7. The group will be inducted at an awards dinner on Dec. 10, 2013 in New York City.

To qualify for the HOF ballot, players must have been named a First Team All-America and played their last season of college football at least 10 years prior and cannot currently be playing professional football. For coaches, candidates must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach.
They must have also won at least 60 percent of their games and retired within at least three years prior to making the list.


(orlandosentinel.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Former Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde remembers when the team was taken seriously. He was part of three Jets playoff teams and finished with a losing record just once in seven years.

Now, Testaverde has watched from afar as the Jets have become a punch line and punching bag for the NFL. Testaverde believes they bring a lot of it upon themselves.

“It’s been disappointing,” said Testaverde, who is here working with MetLife to promote next year’s Super Bowl at the Meadowlands. “There’s enough distraction throughout the course of a season without trying to add to that. If you can avoid distraction, your team, I think, focuses better, which in turn leads to better results.”

Testaverde never said coach Rex Ryan was to blame for the frenzy that always seems to surround these Jets, but added he thinks Ryan could do a better job of managing the firestorms that pop up around the team.

“I think at times they’ve created somewhat of their own distractions, the distractions that lead to them not being as successful as they should be,” Testaverde said. “Maybe [Ryan] wants them to feel that pressure of being in the big city, playing under the big lights in New York and being able to deal with that in a week-in, week-out basis. I don’t know what his strategy is, but I know having played there, having played in Dallas, some of the bigger cities where the lights are brighter, you still need to eliminate as many distractions as you can.”

Testaverde was doing interviews about the hot-button topic of the cold-weather Super Bowl in New Jersey next year. Testaverde said people should study the facts about how much of an effect the weather actually can have on the game.

“You look back since 1991, games under 40 degrees compared to games over 70 degrees, there’s been a point-and-a-half difference — very little,” the Long Island native said. “The scoring is still going to be what it is. Passer rating: five-point difference, not very much. One of the things that stands out is field goals that are made, the percentages go down, and the turnovers go up. But all of those elements are part of the game.”

Testaverde said weather conditions always are part of football.

“All the field conditions, whether it’s windy or raining, those are all things that you have to prepare for,” Testaverde said. “It’s not like baseball where they cancel the game if it’s raining. Football is being played, other than lightning or a major storm. That’s part of the game, and that’s the way it should be played.”

Whatever the weather, Testaverde said he hopes the Jets can find a way to get to the Super Bowl next year, however unlikely that seems at the moment.
“Hopefully, they’ll be [the first team] to play in their home stadium for the Super Bowl in MetLife Stadium,” he said.


(nypost.com)

Vinny Testaverde played 7 of his 21 seasons in the National Football League as the Jets’ quarterback, compiling a 35-26 record and taking the team to the American Football Conference championship game in 1998.

He played college football at Miami, where he was an all-American and won the Heisman Trophy in 1986. He was picked first over all by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 N.F.L. draft. Testaverde, 49, also played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers.

In 2007, the year he retired, he threw two touchdown passes for the Panthers against the San Francisco 49ers, breaking his own record for the oldest starter to win an N.F.L. game. He was 44. Testaverde, a two-time Pro Bowler, threw for a career 46,233 yards and holds the records for having thrown a touchdown pass in 21 consecutive seasons and to 70 different players.

On Tuesday, he hosted the Wild Turkey Bourbon event in Manhattan. At the event, he introduced a turkey named Jimmy Junior, which predicted the outcome of the three Thanksgiving Day N.F.L. games by picking feed out of dishes fastened to the tops of team helmets. It could be the start of a new office pool craze.

The gobbler ruined the holiday dinner of Jets fans when he ate from the Patriots’ dish. But he won cheers from Cowboys and Lions fans when he ate from their dishes.
Q. How do you spend your time now?
A. Lately, I’ve been coaching not only wild turkeys, but high school football. My son is playing over at the high school (Jesuit High School in Tampa, Fla.) and I thought it would be fun to go coach over there, spend time with him and see him develop first-hand.

Q. Do you think the Jets made a good or bad move when they acquired Tim Tebow?
A. I think if you can get some kind of running game going, it opens the door to success. It all stems from the running game on offense, and the lack of running game can make you look bad, and I think Tebow can bring a little of that to the table.

Q. What do you think of Tebow’s style of play?
A. It’s certainly different than what a lot of people are accustomed to seeing. He has a rare skill set that many quarterbacks in the league don’t possess. Bottom line is, he’s a winner and he’s proven that. If the Jets continue to struggle, I think they should give him a shot at the starting quarterback position.
Q. What do you think about players who anonymously knock teammates as the Jets player have done ?
A. I’m a big believer in putting your name to any statement you make. It’s cowardly if you make statements like that off the record and won’t put your name to it. That’s not being a good teammate and it’s a formula for losing.

Q. Should Rex Ryan be fired if the Jets have a losing season?
A. No, I don’t think so. He’s proven he can win. I think they may have to make a couple of changes, and certainly getting a couple key guys healthy would help. You have to find out which guys in the locker room are there to compete and win football games and which guys are out there chirping and being a distraction to the team.

Q. Recently three quarterbacks received concussions on the same Sunday. You managed to play until you were 44. Do you think the game is safer now than when you played?
A. I think they’re trying to make it safer. They try to protect the quarterback. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, you could hit the quarterback low, you could hit the quarterback high. You could hit him pretty much late. Today you can’t do any of those three. I think it’s a good thing. They just have to be careful not to go overboard with it. Case in point, Ed Reed. I thought that was a good hit. Was it a dangerous play for the receiver? Sure, but it’s a dangerous, violent sport, and guys are going to get hurt.

Q. Has the league done enough to protect players from head injuries?
A. It sounds like they are. I really don’t follow too closely what they’re trying to do other than keeping players out when they are diagnosed with a concussion. The brain is a tricky thing to figure out and I think they’re just scratching the surface with that type of injury.

Q. Are you surprised by the impact the rookie quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill, and Russell Wilson are having this season?
A. Not totally surprised. But I am somewhat surprised that this many guys are having a great amount of success so early. I think part of it is that some of these coaches are implementing similar plays to what these guys ran in college. Andrew Luck, on the other hand, is the type of quarterback who came into a new system and learned the offense of the Indianapolis Colts and is having great success. I don’t think anyone would have predicted that the Colts would turn their record around as quick as they did from a year ago.

Q. You have a sleeper team that can go far in the playoffs this year?
A. I don’t know if you’d consider them a sleeper, but no one is talking about the Packers anymore. That’s a team that could come up and surprise some people down the stretch.

Q. What are you most proud of in your career?
A. I guess the fact that I was able to play 21 seasons and always tried to do things the right way. Over the years, I just worked hard and always tried to do what’s best for my teammates, and for my family.

Q. Any regrets?
A. How’s that song go? “Regrets, I’ve had a few.” (laughing) No, not many regrets. I think you have regrets when you didn’t give it everything you had and I always felt like I did. Whether it was good enough or not, that has nothing to do with the fact that I tried my best to give my team a chance to win, year in and year out.

Q. What was the key to your longevity in the N.F.L.?
A. Well first, I was definitely lucky. There are so many potential injuries that you’re always just a half-inch away from. Certainly staying in the weight room, taking care of my body with the proper nutrition and just trying to stay in shape was a big part of it.

Q. How has the game changed since you played?
A. It seems like the game is much faster. You also have all these specialists and even the specialist have specialists. There are third down backs, third receivers, fourth receivers, defensive ends who just come in on pass-rushing downs. The guys are faster and stronger than when I played and the league has evolved offensively into a passing league.

Q. Any hobbies?
A. My biggest hobby is playing golf, which I really enjoy. Now when I am lying in bed at night, unable to sleep, I find myself thinking about my golf swing. I’m also involved in the Tampa Bay chapter of First Tee.

Q. What’s your average score?
A. I’m a 2 handicap, so probably mid 70s.

Q. What’s in your iPod?
A. (laughing) Whatever my wife and kids put on there.

Q. When you do have control, who do you listen to?
A. Honestly other than country, I listen to a little of everything.


(nytimes.com)

Vinny Testaverde’s career as an NFL quarterback spanned 21 seasons, so he experienced first-hand the way the league shifted toward an increased emphasis on protecting quarterbacks from big hits. And Testaverde doesn’t think that shift was a good thing.

In an interview on Mike and Mike in the Morning, Testaverde said he thinks the NFL has made such a priority of keeping offensive players safe that defensive players are no longer able to do their jobs correctly.

“I think they’re being a little overprotective,” Testaverde said. “When I came in the league, you could hit a quarterback high, you could hit him low, you could hit him late. Today, you can’t do any of that. So I think they’re just being a little overprotective of the quarterbacks and certainly a little overprotective of the receivers.”

Testaverde worries that the NFL’s emphasis on player safety has gone so far that the league has forgotten what makes the game of football great.

“It’s a contact sport,” Testaverde said. “It’s a violent game and you’re going to have some big hits.”

Many of those big hits were legal when Testaverde was drafted in 1987 but are not legal anymore.


(profootballtalk.com)

If Vinny Testaverde were the Jets' coach, he'd insert Tim Tebow into the starting lineup immediately.

As a running back.

"You have a guy on your roster -- Tim Tebow -- who can be your running game," the former Jets quarterback told ESPN's Lynn Hoppes. "Instead of giving him just 10-12 reps, give him a full load and wear down the defense. I don't know how all the pieces fit, but that's my opinion. A good running game leads to bigger and better things. It's hard to be successful when you have problems everywhere."

Testaverde, who lives in Tampa, follows his old team closely. Like other fans, he's disappointed with the 3-6 record.

"I wish I knew (what's wrong)," he said. "I'm obviously not in touch with them, and I'm not really close to anybody except as a fan. It's kind of disappointing. I know the Jets fans want to see them turn it around and win a few games."

Testaverde will be in New York next week to host an event in which a real turkey -- Jimmy Junior -- predicts the outcome of the three NFL games on Thanksgiving. One of those, of course, is Jets-Patriots. The turkey will eat from the barrel of the team he thinks will win each matchup, which means Jimmy Junior probably has just as good a chance of picking the winner as most amateur handicappers.

The good news is, the event's sponsor -- Wild Turkey -- will donate 81 turkeys to victims of Hurricane Sandy.


(espn.com)

The NFL jokes seem so obvious: Former New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde is working with some turkeys these days.

Next week in New York City, Testaverde is hosting Wild Turkey’s first Triple Barrel Challenge with a real turkey -- Jimmy Junior -- to predict the outcome of the three NFL games on Thanksgiving.

Following months of studying, Jimmy Junior will eat from the barrel of the team he thinks will win each matchup. After the event, Wild Turkey will, through City Harvest, donate 81 turkeys to the victims of Sandy.



Playbook had a few minutes with Testaverde to find out what advice he gave Jimmy Junior.

Are turkeys smart animals?
"I have no clue. I can tell you this: They certainly taste good."

What was it like on the set of the preview video?
"It was a little nerve-racking. I didn't know how the turkey would respond. Being a farm animal, he's used to being around people. It was a little difficult when you're trying to talk to the camera and wondering whether he was going to peck at your face.

So how did he do?
"I was sweating underneath my shirt because the turkey was focused on what I had in my hand. While talking to the camera, I had a laser pointer. I didn't realize the turkey was staring at that and started pecking at my hand."

You know this is easy. Speaking of turkeys, what about those Jets?
"I wish I knew. I'm obviously not in touch with them, and I'm not really close to anybody except as a fan. It's kind of disappointing. I know the Jets fans want to see them turn it around and win a few games."

What would you do if you were coach?
"You have a guy on your roster -- Tim Tebow -- who can be your running game. Instead of giving him just 10-12 reps, give him a full load and wear down the defense. I don't know how all the pieces fit, but that's my opinion. A good running game leads to bigger and better things. It's hard to be successful when you have problems everywhere."


(espn.com)

proCane Vinny Testaverde who was an NFL quarterback from 1987 - 2007 with seven different teams (Buccaneers, Browns, Ravens, Jets, Cowboys, Patriots, Panthers) holds the NFL record for most consecutive seasons with an NFL touchdown pass with 21 consecutive seasons.

Two nights before his team's must-win encounter with undefeated district foe Lakewood, Jesuit coach James Harrell announced he is making another quarterback change.

This time, he's opting for a kid with three varsity completions -- and six prominent syllables -- to his name.

Vincent Testaverde, a 6-foot-1 junior who wears the same jersey number (14) as his Heisman Trophy-winning father, becomes the Tigers' third starter of the season behind seniors Leland Saile and D.J. Diaz.

"They've both been afforded opportunities to start, so now it's his turn," Harrell told the Tampa Bay Times on Wednesday evening.

Though Testaverde has performed modestly (3-for-7, 38 yards, one interception) in limited action this season, Harrell said his arm and accuracy give Jesuit (5-2, 5-1) the best chance to win should the Tigers have to veer from the power run game they've employed almost exclusively the last month.

In its last four games, all victories against teams with losing records, Jesuit has attempted 28 passes but run for more than 1,100 yards.

"I think right now, he's deserving of an opportunity based on the amount of progression that he's made in such a short time," Harrell said.

"He's just been working hard, and now, I think when you play a team of Lakewood's magnitude, we not only have to be able to run the ball but we have to be able to throw it. I feel confident that if we have to throw the ball, he's the guy that can get it done."

A Jesuit win, coupled with a victory against 2-4 Gibbs next week, gives the Tigers no worse than a share of the Class 5A, District 8 title. If they lose and Robinson tops Spoto on Thursday, they're eliminated from playoff contention.


(tampabay.com)

Vinny Testaverde knows all about bad calls in games involving the Seahawks, and he believes the Monday night debacle was worse than the blunder he benefitted from in 1998.

"A lot of people think the play back in '98 was responsible for bringing in instant replay," the former Jets QB told ESPNNewYork.com Tuesday night. "Well, even with instant replay, these guys got it wrong (Monday night). It's pretty bad when you can't get it right with instant replay."

Testaverde scored on what is remembered as The Phantom Touchdown, a 5-yard sneak in the final minute that lifted the Jets to a 32-31 win over the Seahawks. The ball never crossed the goal line. The officials blew it, thinking Testaverde's helmet was the football. If there had been instant replay, he would've been ruled down at the 1.

It was costly for the Seahawks, who finished 8-8, barely missed the playoffs and fired coach Dennis Erickson.

Testaverde said he bumped into Erickson recently at the Hall of Fame ceremony in Canton. Testaverde, who was there to support former teammate Curtis Martin, said the infamous play came up in conversation.

"He's still bitter about it, to say the least," Testaverde said. "He laughed about it a little, but not as hard as I was laughing."

Testaverde said "the players who lost Monday night" -- the Packers -- "aren't laughing at all. This is their livelihood. Careers are at stake and guys get fired. That's the shame of it." He agreed with the rest of America, claiming the officials blew it. He blamed the league and the owners.

"The NFL should be at their best at all times and, clearly, these aren't the best (officials)," he said. "I don't blame the replacements, I blame the league for putting them out there. Roger Goodell is taking his orders from the owners, so I blame them, too. We need people to step up and get on the owners. The only way to get their attention is to not go to the games. That'll get them to listen -- empty seats."


(espn.com)

Former New York Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde knows Saturday's game between the New York Giants and the Jets is just a preseason game, but it's still bragging rights for the city.

"It's a bigger deal for the players than you think," said Testaverde, who played six seasons with the Jets on two occasions. "Anytime you go shopping or eating or go to the gas station, people will let you know about it if you lose."

Testaverde, who now lives in Florida to help coach his son at Jesuit High School in Tampa, was in New York Thursday, along with former New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer, to help MetLife unveil a unique symbol of luck -- an 8-foot statue of Snoopy dedicated to the fans of both teams.

"All of the years I played football, I didn't realize how big of a deal football was until I got to New York," said Testaverde, who played 20 years for seven teams. "With the statue, people can high-five it as they walk into the stadium for good luck."

The buildup for Saturday's MetLife Bowl II (Jets won last year 17-3) has been tremendous, with the Giants coming off winning the Super Bowl and the Jets signing lightning-rod Tim Tebow.

Testaverde said he knows attention will be paid more toward the Jets and how they manage Tebow and starting quarterback Mark Sanchez -- even in the preseason.

"I really believe it's going to be up to the coaching staff and how Mark handles all this," Testaverde said. "I don't know the game plan and the roles they will be playing, but if they stick to what they are talking about, it'll be a successful season."

Testaverde said he doesn't listen to all the barbs toward Tebow, even by former Jets such as Boomer Esiason and Joe Namath.

"All this negative talk doesn't help your football team. The situation is what it is," Testaverde said. "Tebow does bring certain things for that team. Imagine if Sanchez is on the wing and looks like he's running a route, what will the defenses do? They will have some troubles with that."


(espn.com)

We’ll call it the “Arch of Vinny.”

Former NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde joined “NFL AM” Thursday morning and discussed many of the big name quarterbacks in the NFL.

The former No.1 overall pick in the 1987 NFL draft spent 21 seasons in the NFL and experienced the situations both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck currently find themselves in.

Vinny, who played until he was 44 years old, knows as few things about diminished arm strength and what it takes to play when the spry years are in the rear view mirror, said he’s optimistic with what he’s seen from Manning in preseason.

“From what I can tell and what I can see on TV he looks pretty good,” Testaverde said.  “I don’t know that he has the same arm strength yet, but hopefully he will continue to get stronger and get his arm strength back. He is a veteran, smart, crafty quarterback that understands defenses and how to manipulate defenses to get his guys open and I see him having a great year.”

As for the Indianapolis Colts’ current rookie quarterback, Testaverde said he understand the challenges Luck faces.

“I think Andrew and I in that regard have a lot in common,” he said. “No. 1 picks going to a team that didn’t play very well the year before. Andrew obviously has a lot of talent, he showcased that in last week’s preseason game but there is going to be high expectations. Once you show what you can do and show that potential like he did last week then the expectations go up even higher. He seems to have a really good head on his shoulders I expect great things out of him and I expect him to have a long career.”


(nfl.com)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- To prepare for the NFL draft, the New York Jets' newest wide receiver caught passes from an old Jets quarterback -- Vinny Testaverde throwing to Stephen Hill.

Hill trained at the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where Testaverde works part-time as an instructor. They spent three weeks together, working out three or four days a week -- two generations connected by soaring spirals.

At 48, Testaverde still can sling it, and he enjoyed throwing to Hill, whom he described as a potential star.

"I'm glad the Jets got him," Testaverde said Saturday in a phone interview with ESPNNewYork.com. "New York will love him. I think he has a chance to be a really good, if not great wide receiver."

The Jets think so, too. On Friday night, they traded up four spots in the second round, picking Hill with the 43rd overall choice.

The expectations are getting bigger and bigger for Hill. Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' vice president of college scouting, said Hill compares athletically to Calvin Johnson. Testaverde added two other big names -- Terrell Owens and Keyshawn Johnson.

Not too much pressure on the kid, is there?

"He's built like Terrell Owens," Testaverde said of the 6-4, 215-pound Hill. "He's got that muscular physique. You can just call him a stud. He's fast, quick and has really good hands."

Testaverde, who played for seven teams during a career that spanned two decades, never played with Owens. Asked to compare Hill to a former teammate, he mentioned Johnson.

Johnson and Testaverde played together with the Jets and Dallas Cowboys, forming an explosive tandem in 1998 -- the year the Jets lost a heartbreaker to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.

"He reminds me of Keyshawn," Testaverde said. "Except faster."

Hill is fast, all right. At the scouting combine, he blazed the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, soaring up draft boards across the league.

The Jets wanted to add that dimension to their offense, which had zero explosiveness last season.

The Jets also wanted to add size to their receiving corps, replacing Plaxico Burress (6-5). Testaverde believes Hill has the potential to be a force inside the 20.

"He's going to be great in the red zone," he said. "Any time there's a jump ball, he's going to win. He can outjump every corner in the league. He can be a dominant athlete."

The Jets told Hill he will have an opportunity to win the starting job opposite Santonio Holmes, but Hill has a lot of work to do because he came from an offense that completed only 64 passes last season. Georgia Tech employs the triple option, which means Hill did a lot of blocking and not a whole lot of catching.

Hill said it was "a little frustrating," but he vowed to make a successful transition to a pro passing attack.

"They're expecting a lot of things out of me," he said Saturday in a news conference at the Jets' facility. "I'm going to come out here day one and just play and gradually get myself to be a great player."

Hill caught only 28 passes last season (for a 29.3-yard average), but he never thought the lack of productivity would hurt his ability to make the NFL. One of his predecessors at Georgia Tech, Demaryius Thomas, was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2010. In fact, the Jets studied Thomas' career arc while trying to project Hill's potential.

They gave Hill a first-round grade, wasting little time to trade up for him once the second round began.

"For a team to trade up and get you, it's a great feeling," said Hill, who was projected as a late first-rounder in many mock drafts. "It put a big smile on my face. I'm still smiling on the inside right now."

So is quarterback Mark Sanchez, presumably. He called Hill on Friday night to welcome him to the team, and they already started talking about some of the basics of the playbook.

"He's ready to go, he's excited," Hill said. "I'm excited, too. I'll make sure I get with Tim Tebow, too, because I know they'll be a little bit of change going on there" -- a reference to Tebow in the Wildcat.

In his pre-draft workouts, Hill trained with quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins, all of whom were drafted. But he said Testaverde made an impression on him.

The graying gunslinger told Hill to "be a rookie, be a pro, stay in your place." Hill, who knew Testaverde mostly from video games, said it was an "amazing" experience.

"He gave me a lot of tips, how to get in and out of breaks, stuff like that," he said.

Testaverde, who retired after the 2007 season, has gravitated toward the coaching side of football. In fact, he'll be coaching the quarterbacks this fall at his son's high school in the Tampa area.

He said he enjoyed Hill because he was a "good kid and a hard worker. I respect and appreciate that, someone who works at their trade."
No, Testaverde said, the Jets didn't call to pick his brain on Hill. He said not too many people even knew he was working with draft-eligible players at IMG.

Testaverde said Hill's biggest challenge will be learning the intricacies of a pro-style offense. The raw talent is there. Asked if Hill had too much speed on deep balls for his 48-year-old arm, Testaverde laughed.

"I never underthrew him," he said. "After 20 years in this game, I learned that you take a three-step drop instead of a five-step, and get it up early -- especially when you're throwing to a guy that fast."


(espn.com)

Launching golf balls in the Bay area now instead of footballs, Vinny Testaverde has never been happier, 25 years after arriving as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers savior.

As he approaches the silver anniversary of his selection as the first overall pick in the 1987 NFL draft, the 48-year-old Testaverde harbors no bitterness toward the organization or any Bucs fan who booed him lustily through six tumultuous seasons in Tampa.

"It was tough, but even when I was going through it, I was telling myself, this is a good learning experience,'' said Testaverde, a scratch golfer who enjoys playing the most challenging courses in Florida. "You can either walk away, or you can button up your chin strap and your laces and get back out there.

"A lot of guys seem to walk away, while others find a way to get through it and the adversity makes them better. I felt like it made me a better quarterback when I went to some different teams and had success.''

After winning the Heisman Trophy at the University of Miami, Testaverde was the obvious pick in 1987 for the Bucs, who were coming off consecutive 2-14 seasons under Leeman Bennett.

New coach Ray Perkins was eager to work with Testaverde, who signed a six-year deal a few weeks before the draft and sat behind veteran quarterback Steve DeBerg until late in his rookie season. Testaverde's first pro start came on Dec. 6, 1987 at New Orleans, where he threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns, running for another score in a 44-34 loss to the Saints.

"It was the most incredible day of football in my life,'' said former Bucs defensive tackle Dan Sileo, also Testaverde's teammate on the 1986 Hurricanes. "He looked spectacular. Vinny Testaverde is still the best quarterback talent I've ever seen coming out of college.''

Despite Testaverde's size, strength and strapping right arm, he went 24-48 as a starting quarterback for the Buccaneers before leaving as a free agent after the 1992 season.

With little talent around him, Testaverde became the focal point for disgruntled Tampa Bay fans who wouldn't see a winning team until five years after Testaverde's departure to Cleveland.

"As you look back, you realize it was the wrong time and the wrong team for Vinny in Tampa,'' said long-time NFL personnel executive Tim Ruskell, who joined the Bucs as a regional scout in Testaverde's rookie season. "He was brought in to fix something that wasn't fixable. But as the teams around him improved, he got better.''

Testaverde played for six other NFL clubs, and when his 21-year career ended with the 2007 Panthers, he found himself near the top of the league career passing charts in several categories.

"My career started out a little rough in Tampa,'' said Testaverde, who is raising two girls and a boy with Mitzi, his wife of 21 years. "But in the end, my time here probably allowed me to play longer and focus more because I became mentally tough.''

Testaverde's most enjoyable NFL season came in 1998, when the workout warrior who grew up in Elmont, N.Y., helped the Jets to a 12-4 record and a berth in the AFC title game at Denver, where New York held a 10-0 halftime lead before losing 23-10.

Interceptions plagued Testaverde throughout his pro career, but he persevered while winning 90 of 214 career starts.

After his six-year crucible in Tampa, Testaverde earned two Pro Bowl berths and ended up with 275 TD passes, two more than Joe Montana.
"Looking back at my career, I'd say, man, it was a lot of fun,'' said Testaverde. "If somebody would take me back today, I'd go out there again. I've got no regrets being drafted by the Bucs, and I understand the frustration of Buc fans back then. They wanted a winner, and when you don't win, the quarterback and the head coach bear the brunt of it.''

On most days, Testaverde can be found on the driving range at Old Memorial, honing his golf skills with the same dedication that sustained him through 21 NFL seasons.

"Vinny's a big asset to this community,'' said Tampa golf pro and broadcaster Gary Koch. "I don't know another golfer that works at the game any harder. And at his age, he looks like he could still suit up at quarterback.''

Testaverde still works out every day, but for Sileo, he'll always be that remarkable 6-foot-5 physical specimen who astonished Miami teammates by running a 4.7 and squatting 500 pounds.

"He may not be a Hall of Famer, but when you play 21 years, you're in the longevity Hall of Fame,'' Sileo said. "Vinny acquired a lot of mental toughness by being beat up in his years in Tampa and he was a better quarterback in his mid-30s."


(tbo.com)

Vinny Testaverde, who played at Miami, was named one of 76 players on the ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, announced Tuesday by the hall. Testaverde is joined by fellow Miami Hurricanes Quarterback Goerge Mira Jr. and former University of Miami Head Coach, Jimmy Johnson.

Vinny Testaverde, Miami (Fla.)-Quarterback- Winner of 1986 Heisman, Walter Camp, Maxwell Award, and Davey O'Brien. . . Led Canes to three bowl berths, including 1987 Fiesta Bowl to determine national championship. . . Finished career with 6,058 passing yards and 48 TD passes.

Jimmy Johnson-Oklahoma State (1979-83), Miami, Fla. (1984-88)- Led Miami to 1987 National Championship and perfect 12-0 record. . . Recorded four 10-win seasons and five consecutive January bowl games with the Hurricanes. . . Miami finished in the top two in 3-of-5 seasons under Johnson. . . Named 1979 Big Eight Coach of the Year at Oklahoma State.

Join us at the VIP Lounge in The Mall at Short Hills, NJ to meet pro football veteran Vinny Testaverde. As a University of Miami quarterback, Mr. Testaverde won the Heisman Trophy in 1986, and went on to play quarterback for seven well-known football teams over his 21 year career.

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Click here to order Vinny Testaverde’s proCane Rookie Card.


(insideaccess.com)

As a New York guy, how did you feel about moving on and playing that week?
I had expressed to my coach, my GM, my teammates that I thought it'd be in our best interest to not play that week. I actually told them if they went out to California, I think we were playing the Raiders, that I wouldn't be making that trip. That I'd stay home and be with family and friends.

Did you lose anyone close to you, know anyone affected?
Mostly friends of friends, people from our church, turns out later that week I found out that a high school teammate of mine had passed away in the towers that collapsed. I actually saw his photo on a poster honoring those firefighters and police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. And having to learn that just a few hours before kickoff was hard to swallow. Being a New York guy growing up on Long Island, just having what I'd say was a closer connection than most of the other teammates that were there at the time with me, it just hit home a little bit more being from New York.

You went to the site by yourself. What was that like?
I went down to Ground Zero (soon) after to walk around and talk with rescue workers, and you could see the sadness in their eyes and their hearts and you know, I'm getting chills just talking about it. It was a sad time, a very sad, emotional thing that a lot of people had gone through.

What role did sports play in helping people get over what had happened?
I think for more than a moment, sports — as popular as it is in our country — was part of the healing process for Americans. Certainly the Yankees, the Jets and Giants, those teams had something to do with the healing process. Although I thought it was important not to play the following week, I thought it was important to continue to do the best we could as athletes to provide some kind of entertainment or distraction, if you will.

(nj.com)

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."

Click here to order Vinny Testaverde’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sportingnews.com)

Alex Smith, Ronnie Brown, Antrel Rolle and Cedric Benson 2005
The four first-round picks have had mixed results in their careers. Smith, the No. 1 pick, has been a part-time starter for the 49ers. Brown has battled injuries in his career but made the 2008 Pro Bowl. Rolle has been the most successful of the four, making two Pro Bowls in his career. Benson was a bust for Chicago but has restarted his career in Cincinnati, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons



Vinny Testaverde 1987
The Heisman Trophy winner talks on the phone after being selected by the Buccaneers with the No. 1 pick in the draft. He struggled with Tampa Bay, throwing 25 more interceptions than touchdowns and compiling a 24-48 record. But he went on to have a productive 21-year career in the league and earned two Pro Bowl selections.



Chris Berman 1987
The long-time ESPN NFL analyst and host works the draft board during the telecast. On the 1987 you can see eventual first pick proCane Vinny Testaverde and eventual 3rd pick Alonzo Highsmith.



William Bidwell and Ottis Anderson 1979
The Cardinals' first-round pick holds up his jersey alongside owner William Bidwell. The running back won Rookie of Year in 1979 and made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons. He later added the 1991 Super Bowl MVP award for his performance in the Giants' win over the Bills.

No 5. Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie was an excellent Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at Boston College and ranks fifth on my list. Flutie overcame his lack of height to play 13 NFL seasons starting 66 and playing in 92 games. Flutie was an on and off starter for his career and turned in some good performances. Doug Flutie threw 86 touchdown passes against 68 interceptions in his NFL career.

No 4. Carson Palmer
I rank Carson Palmer as the fourth best NFL quarterback who won the Heisman in college. Palmer followed up a stellar college career at USC with a pretty good NFL career. At the time of this writing Palmer is still active but threatening retirement if not traded by the Bengals. Carson Palmer battled injuries and being in a crappy organization to put up some nice career passing numbers with the Bengals.

No 3. Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde battled the bust label after winning the Heisman at Miami and being drafted by Tampa Bay. Then Vinny Testaverde matured into a very solid NFL quarterback, playing in all or parts of 21 seasons! Vinny Testaverde ended up with over 46,000 passing yards and 275 touchdown passes.

No 2. Jim Plunkett
Plunkett too was thought to be a bust when things didn't work out with the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers after he won the Heisman at Stanford. Then Jim Plunkett was in the right place at the right time when Dan Pastorini broke his leg with the Raiders. Plunkett stepped in and led the Raiders to the Super Bowl. Later Plunkett replaced injured Marc Wilson and helped the Raiders win a 2nd Super Bowl. Plunkett and Staubach are the only NFL quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl MVP and the HeismanTrophy.

No 1. Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach is the best NFL quarterback who won the Heisman in college. Following a great career at Navy Staubach honored his military commitment before joining the Dallas Cowboys. After finally beating out Craig Morton, Roger had a Hall of Fame NFL career with America's Team. Staubach was a very mobile quarterback known for his come from behind wins and for throwing the famous "Hail Mary" pass to Drew Pearson.

Click here to order Vinny Testaverde’s proCane Rookie Card.



(sports.yahoo.com)

Two Hall of Fame caliber proCanes will be eligible in 2013 to be inducted into the NFL Hall o Fame. Here is a short list of notable eligible players. 2013: Quarterback Vinny Testaverde, offensive linemen Larry Allen and Jonathan Ogden, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, defensive end Michael Strahan.

Warren Sapp is a lock. We personally think Vinny should be inducted as well as though it may take a few years.

Click here to order Warren Sapp’s or Vinny Testaverede’s proCane Rookie Card.



(espn.com)