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Panthers Resurrect Testaverde

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2007

Updated: 10/10/2007 11:46 pm

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Vinny Testaverde isn't finished yet - even at age 43.

The Carolina Panthers, desperate for a quarterback with Jake Delhomme out for the season and David Carr banged up, signed Testaverde to a one-year deal.

Testaverde, the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 1987 draft, practiced in his familiar No. 16 jersey Wednesday, while hearing his teammates call him 'Dad' as he came up to the line of scrimmage.

'I haven't told them yet, but I have probably forgot more football than these guys already know,' Testaverde said with a grin. 'We'll have some fun with that.'

Joining his sixth franchise, Testaverde has played in 226 games with 208 starts. He was cut by New England before the start of the season.

Testaverde will provide insurance behind Carr, who became the Panthers' No. 1 QB on Monday when the team announced Delhomme would have season-ending elbow surgery.

But Testaverde could be a candidate to start Sunday's game at Arizona. Carr, who suffered a back injury in Carolina's win over New Orleans, missed practice Wednesday.

Testaverde, who won the Heisman Trophy at Miami the same year Panthers rookie receiver Dwayne Jarrett was born, said he thinks he could know enough of the offense to start against the Cardinals.

BENGALS: Right tackle Willie Anderson will be sidelined Sunday in Kansas City, ending his streak of 116 consecutive starts. Anderson hasn't missed a game since 1999, putting together the sixth-longest streak in franchise history and the longest by an offensive lineman. He had to leave a 34-13 loss to New England on Oct. 1 after the first series. Anderson has been bothered by chronic pain in his right foot. While playing with that problem, he has also hurt the leg

BILLS: Quarterback J.P. Losman practiced for the first time since spraining his left knee against New England three weeks ago. Losman said his knee feels fine and he should be ready once the Bills (1-4) return from their bye week to host Baltimore on Oct. 21.

But Coach Dick Jauron didn't say whether Losman would be given an opportunity to reclaim the starting job after rookie Trent Edwards was effective in going 1-1 in two starts and providing rhythm to a sputtering offense.

CHIEFS: Damon Huard's injured shoulder held up fine in practice and he will be Kansas City's starting quarterback Sunday against Cincinnati. Huard was hurt in the fourth quarter of last week's game against Jacksonville and there had been reports he would be benched in favor of Brodie Croyle.

FALCONS: Tackle Todd Weiner had knee surgery and will miss at least two weeks, leaving the team with two rookie starters for Monday's game against the Giants.

PATRIOTS: Re-signed tight end Marcellus Rivers and released linebacker Chad Brown.

RAMS: Return man Dante Hall, who has a severe left ankle sprain, was all but ruled out for this week's game at Baltimore. The injury is significant enough that the Rams signed a new return man, Brandon Williams, cut last month by the 49ers.

RAVENS: Cornerback Samari Rolle practiced Wednesday and expects to return to the starting lineup Sunday after a three-game absence. Rolle was sidelined since Sept. 20 with an illness that required a brief hospital stay. He declined to discuss specifics.

SEAHAWKS: Placed Pro Bowl fullback Mack Strong on injured reserve and signed veteran Fred McCrary, who played with Atlanta last season.

The Seahawks also released long-snapper Derek Rackley and replaced him with Boone Stutz, the same man who took Rackley's job with the Falcons in 2006.

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