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Vinny Testaverde
| Biography |
Vinny Testaverde (born November 13, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American football quarterback and is currently the starting quarterback for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
Testaverde was the star quarterback at the University of Miami, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1986 on his way to becoming Miami's all-time leader in career touchdown passes (46). He was the first overall draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1987 NFL draft.
In 1988, Testaverde became the Bucs' starting quarterback, throwing a 47.6% completion rate for 3,240 yards and 13 touchdowns, but with 35 interceptions. His numbers continued to improve and by the 1992 season, his last with Tampa Bay, Testaverde threw for a 57.5% completion rate for 2,554 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Testaverde then spent three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and then two with the Baltimore Ravens before finally settling with the New York Jets in 1998. In his first season, Testaverde flourished, completing 61.5% of his passes with 29 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions, arguably his best season in the NFL. However, in many of his remaining seasons with the Jets, Testaverde was hampered by injuries.
Despite his injuries, Testaverde's performance with the Jets endeared him to coach Bill Parcells who retired from coaching in 1999. However, once Parcells was lured out of retirement by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, he sought out bringing Testaverde to his new team and in 2004, Parcells's second year, Testaverde signed with the Cowboys. Testaverde, now at the age of 40, was initially signed to be a backup and mentor to young Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter, but after Carter was abruptly cut by the Cowboys, Testaverde was given the starting quarterback job. But while many questioned Testaverde's ability to still play in the NFL, in his first two games with the Cowboys, Testaverde threw two consecutive 300-yard games
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