The New York Jets benched quarterback Vinny Testaverde on Monday for third-year man Chad Pennington. If it marks the beginning of the end of Testaverde’s career, he will join a long list of NFL quarterbacks who hit the wall at age 38.
Tuesday will mark the beginning of the end of this season for St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner. He will be sidelined eight to 10 weeks after surgery on the broken little finger of his throwing hand.
With the Rams already 0-4 and a long shot to reach the playoffs, Warner’s season could be over. Jamie Martin will replace him and the Rams revealed the extent of their frustration when they signed an ex-Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, Scott Covington, to back up Martin.
Two years ago, Warner had surgery on the same broken finger and missed five games, but this is a compound fracture. Testaverde, who will turn 39 in November, bruised a shoulder early in the 1-3 Jets’ loss to Jacksonville. Coach Herman Edwards decided it was time to take Pennington, a first-round draft choice in 2000, off the shelf.
More Top Picks Watches
“It is not all on Vinny; we are all held accountable,” Edwards said. “Quarterback is always the guy who takes the hit first. The way we’ve performed, judging the performances by the first four games, it is not where we are supposed to be.”
The age of 38 is not as kind to quarterbacks as it can be for baseball players, such as Barry Bonds.
Dan Marino, John Elway, Joe Montana and Steve Young all retired at 38, and few quarterbacks ever have been productive after that age.
Johnny Unitas had Achilles’ surgery at age 38, was benched in Baltimore at 39 and retired in San Diego at 40. The great Sammy Baugh broke his hand in the preseason after turning 38 and retired the next year. Even George Blanda, who stayed in the league until he was 48, primarily as a kicker, was forced to share playing time at quarterback when he turned 38 in Houston and was traded to Oakland as a kicker the following year.
Warren Moon played until he was 44 and was the most successful quarterback ever past the age of 38. He threw 33 touchdown passes for Minnesota at age 39 and 25 for Seattle at age 41.
Joy for Joey: If there’s anything better than a new quarterback to get people excited, it’s a successful new quarterback. After rookie Joey Harrington led the Detroit Lions to their first win of the season in his second start, Lions personnel chief Bill Tobin was especially impressed by one decision Harrington made.
With subs in the game, two players started to go in motion. Rather than run the play and incur a penalty, Harrington quickly stepped away and called a timeout.
“That’s something a 15-year veteran would do,” Tobin said. “I saw him make two mistakes. He could have run inside the 5-yard line and chose to throw, and he led a receiver too far in the back of the end zone. The whole team believes in him.”
Lambeau feelings: The Packers are continuing to play in Lambeau Field during reconstruction that isn’t as extensive as the remaking of Soldier Field. Packers coach Mike Sherman, asked how he’d feel if he had to play home games in Madison, said: “I’m a big Badger fan, but I want the Badgers to play in Madison and the Packers to play in Green Bay. I don’t want to have to travel to play at home.
“I credit Bob Harlan (club president) for having the foresight to realize what an advantage it is for us to play at home during reconstruction. I just know when our guys take Lambeau Field, there’s a special feeling in front of the home crowd. Certain teams do it certain ways. This is the way we elected to do it and I’m grateful for that. Anytime you don’t have to travel a distance to play a home game, it’s an advantage. Not to take anything away from the Bears; they have to do it their way. I’m not speaking for the Bears.”
Randy mess: Randy Moss admitted it. After dropping three passes in the end zone in a humiliating 48-23 loss to Seattle on Sunday night, Minnesota’s star receiver said he blew it.
Seattle fans booed Moss after his arrest and jailing last week on misdemeanor charges of pushing a Minneapolis traffic officer with his car.
“I could hear the fans, I could hear the boos,” Moss said. “My game wasn’t really in sync. I can’t really pinpoint why I wasn’t catching the ball. I just wasn’t catching it. There’s not a word to describe why.”
The Vikings dropped to 0-4, their worst start since 1967.
“It was just one of those nights where whatever could go wrong did,” Moss said. “People are used to seeing me play and make big plays and make big catches, so this was unusual for Randy Moss.”
Moss declined to comment on an ESPN report that he tested positive for marijuana use last season and underwent another test by the NFL after his arrest. Asked if he thought he was in danger of being suspended by the league for four games, he said, “No.”
Matthews to sit: Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier said Monday that ex-Bears quarterback Shane Matthews won’t start at Tennessee, with either Danny Wuerffel or rookie Patrick Ramsey getting the nod.
`”He could play if he had to, but he’s still banged up a little bit,” Spurrier said of Matthews. “We’re going to let him rest a while.”
Around the league: Offensive lineman Richmond Webb tore a muscle in his chest and is expected to miss the rest of the season, leaving Cincinnati with yet another major problem. The Bengals (0-4) will give top draft pick Levi Jones his first NFL start Sunday in Indianapolis. . . . Seahawks starting guard Steve Hutchinson will be lost for at least eight weeks with a broken right leg and tight end Jerramy Stevens will be out at least three weeks with a sprained left ankle. . . . The Titans will be without leading receiver Derrick Mason (separated shoulder) and starting cornerback Samari Rolle (strained hamstring) for at least a few weeks. … Miami kick returner Albert Johnson is expected to miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left knee.