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.

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(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)